The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Fans Learned Healthy Does Not Mean Playing Time

By Bret Stuter

Mar 11, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (center) battles Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (left) and forward Richaun Holmes (22) for positioning on a free throw during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. The Clippers won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (center) battles Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (left) and forward Richaun Holmes (22) for positioning on a free throw during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. The Clippers won 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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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 /

Wounded Along The Way

As the season advanced through preseason into season into the new year, players began to fall off due to injuries. It was a wash/rinse/repeat process.

Ben Simmons (Foot, September 30, 2016),
Nerlens Noel (Knee, October 16, 2016),
Jerryd Bayless (Wrist, November 16, 2016),
Joel Embiid (Knee, January 27, 2017),
Jahlil Okaofr (Knee, March 24, 2017),
Sergio Rodriguez (Hamstring, March 27, 2017)
Robert Covington (Knee, March 28, 2017)

You Hurt A Knee, and You Hurt A Knee and Everyone Hurt A Knee

Is it sheer coincidence that three players were shut down due to knee injuries within four days of one another?  Perhaps, but that is a much longer discussion to be held in the near future.

The problem was the process of baiting fans into false hopes of injured players returning to the lineup.  Do you recall the fervor over Ben Simmons return near the end of January 2017?  How about the minor injury to Joel Embiid?

Major Minor

And not to leave out Jahlil Okafor, whose knee issues seemed to magnify as the season wore on. Ultimately, he scheduled minor knee surgery as well.

So in the words of a famous line from the cinema, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE..