The Sixer Sense
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Has Sports Medicine Gotten TOO Good for Philadelphia 76ers?

By Bret Stuter

Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Nerlens Noel (M) and forward Ben Simmons (R) during a timeout in the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Nerlens Noel (M) and forward Ben Simmons (R) during a timeout in the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) falls to the floor after being injured during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) falls to the floor after being injured during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. The Toronto Raptors won 123.114. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Role Hasn’t Changed, But Medicine Has

But the role of Martin has not changed.  In his current capacity, he continues to bring 76ers’ players to full health.  And yet, the questions have yet to be asked.  What is the threshold of intervention? Is 100% healthy the objective? Or does the team along some banging and bruising, and even some minor tears of the Meniscus, before surgery becomes a viable option?

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    • You already know that the Philadelphia 76ers are not competing for a championship. But they will be in the discussion next year.  In the off-season, answers to these questions need to be answered.  Now that each imperfection in an athlete’s body can be discovered in virtual real time, does it mean shutting down the player?

    Bad Medicine, Better NBA?

    And so, years ago, players played through the pain. Or they just rested until pain subsided. As a matter of fact, the answer to all of this is not up to me, or Dr. Martin.

    Ultimately, the answer lies in the consensus of athletes, physicians, and the NBA.  That conversation has yet to take place.

    And so, the Philadelphia 76ers will continue to get “nicked up”. After all, players will continue to find themselves diagnosed with injuries. And so, surgeons will continue to recommend surgery. And in the end, the situation will continue to frustrate fans and sports writers, all seeking the person ultimately responsible.  Eventually the NBA will debate the issue.  In the meantime, Dr. David T. Martin will continue to restore as much health to the players.

    After all, it’s what he does.  On one hand, no one needs to worry about the team this year. On the other hand,  the Philadelphia 76ers need to establish safe protocols for next year, or face more of the same.  In conclusion, the status quo translates into the same vicious cycle. And so in that same vein, to win the race to a championship, we’ve got to get these cars out of the pits.