The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Joel Embiid Is The Anti-Andrew Bynum

By Bret Stuter

Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks former center Dikembe Mutumbo reacts to the crowd after his jersey is retired at half time of the Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks game at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks former center Dikembe Mutumbo reacts to the crowd after his jersey is retired at half time of the Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks game at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Injuries Test Team Depth And Endurance

Injuries have a huge say in which teams endure the long road to the NBA Finals.

in the 2001-2002 season, the Philadelphia 76ers felt that they had arrived, and in the following off-season, the team loaded their roster with players acquired by trading draft picks – using their 2003 first round pick in a package to pry Jerome Moiso from the Boston Celtics. Then they tossed Moiso in a package to the Charlotte Hornets and their 2005 first round pick to the Golden State Warriors in a three way trade.  They ended up with Derrick Coleman and two other players.

Now they were loaded for bear.  But the team did not factor in the great constant of the NBA, and of professional sports for that matter.

Injury.

A broken hand to shooting guard Allen Iverson hurt the team where it could least afford to be hurt – at the fulcrum to the offense.  The Philadelphia 76ers would go on an eight game losing streak before beating the New York Knicks on March 24, 2002.  Iverson was not the only star to miss games that season.

Aaron McKie, the previous season’s Sixth Man of the Year, would miss 23 of 26 games while battling through an ankle sprain.   Derrick Coleman, newly acquired to add offense to compliment Allen Iverson, battled through a sore left knee.   Doctors felt the cause to be hyper-extension and prescribed rest.  Rest came, after the Sixers were shown the door in a far too short playoff appearance.

Next: Panic Set In