The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers can win games if Joel Embiid limited playing minutes

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 27: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a made basket against the Houston Rockets at the Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 27: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a made basket against the Houston Rockets at the Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers have built a team capable of playoffs even if Joel Embiid remains on minutes restrictions

Just how healthy can this Philadelphia 76ers team remain this year? In the background of every analysis, projection, trade rumor, and roster move, there is that elephant in the room. Toss everything if the team cannot stay healthy enough to play. Double down when the discussion covers Joel Embiid.

But just as the Philadelphia 76ers have improved over time, this team is getting wiser as well. Familiarity does not breed contempt when it relates to a head coach and his players.  Head coach Brett Brown, on the contrary, does a masterful job of leaning players into other positions.  Nik Stauskas, a shooting guard on paper, did a pretty good job at point guard in emergency relief last season. So too Richaun Holmes gobbled up minutes at the center position last season.  If the team would simply remain healthy, this would not even be an issue.

Or would it?

Silver lining to oft-injured roster

The Philadelphia 76ers have been snake bit for the past three seasons.  While that has crippled the team’s hopes of significant improvement in that season, it has had a remarkable effect on the long-term development of players and the team overall.

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    • Few NBA teams reach deep into their bench for starters. Last season the Philadelphia 76ers had 16 players start at least one game for the team.  As many as 11 players started a minimum of 17 games for the team.  So what does that do for this season?

    Two things. First and foremost, it arms each player with the confidence of starting an NBA game. It gives that player the hands on in real game situations to take back to the gym and practice and work towards improving.

    But secondly, it gives a good coaching staff a baseline from which to plan schemes and focus practices on in the off-season.  The Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff is one of the NBA’s finest, and they are focused upon player development. That is huge in this stage of the team’s growth.

    Roster moves filled empty roles

    In the course of the season and off-season, the team has swapped for some new faces. This team no longer has the services of Ersan Ilyasova, Nerlens Noel, Sergio Rodriguez, nor Gerald Henderson. In their wake, the team has Amir Johnson, Furkan Korkmaz, and J.J. Redick.  Add the return to health of Ben Simmons, and new rookie Markelle Fultz, and the dynamics of this team have changed significantly.

    Even if Joel Embiid is limited to 31 games, and limited minutes, this team is far more capable of finding success.  Redick is a double digit scorer, and Johnson adds accuracy and physicality to the team’s post game.

    Two top-pick rookies coming online simultaneously

    But the greatest potential lies in the two top-pick rookies coming on-line this year.  With Fultz’s moves and Simmons passes, the pair could grow into a signficant duo on the court. Add in the rotational presence of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Furkan Korkmaz, Dario Saric, Robert Covington, while either Richaun Holmes or Jahlil Okafor man the five spot, and it’s clear that this team can score points and hassle the opponents.

    While we continue to speculate how the team will assemble everyone into one cohesive roster, this season’s opponents are completely in the dark. And that is just the first plus.

    These Sixers don’t quit

    The Philadelphia 76ers had plenty of incentive and justification to folding like a wet paper bag last season when injuries began to thin the roster. They didn’t. The team ended January 2017 with 18 wins. Without Joel Embiid, the team added ten more wins in Feb.- Apr. 2017.

    That was a team without Amir Johnson, J.J. Redick, Jerryd Bayless, Ben Simmons, Furkan Korkmaz, nor Markelle Fultz.  With these players, they can compensate with both offense and defense to keep the team on track.

    Next: Sixers draft: Keep an eye on Trier next season

    Now, nobody is saying the team WANTS Joel Embiid to miss games nor to have playing time limitations.  On the same line, nobody is saying that he is the only injury risk on the team.  Ultimately, he is the face of the franchise, and the keystone to the playoff run.

    Without him, this team can still win.  Let’s not try to find out.