Translating Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid medical update into playoff timetables

The Philadelphia 76ers have released their initial medical followup regarding center Joel Embiid orbital fracture. Now, what does it mean in the timetable?

The Philadelphia 76ers are heading for the NBA Playoffs. Simultaneously, the Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid is recovering from orbital surgery. And to all of the patient Philadelphia 76ers fans, it’s a race against time. Can Joel Embiid recover in time to join his teammates in time to help his teammates advance in round one?  For now, the 76ers are releasing medical updates “as is”.  That doesn’t help the fans of the 76ers.

So what did the release state? This.

But what does that mean to the fans, eager to know if Embiid will be back in time for the playoffs? Well let’s break down what this update DOES say, and what it doesn’t.

Fracture repairs progressing nicely

First of all, the fracture site repair is the key to all other components of this timetable. In the course of progress and getting back onto the court, nothing happens until surgeons sign off on healing of Joel Embiid’s fracture site.  And that progress received its first checkup today. The verbiage used – “pleased with how the affected area is presenting to date” – is the equivalent of two-thumbs-up.  Today’s checkup is basically the half way point.

The regular season schedule includes four games remaining. Those games are hosting Cleveland Cavaliers on April 6, 2018, hosting Dallas Mavericks on April 8, 2018, traveling to Atlanta Hawks on April 10, 2018, and finally hosting Milwaukee Bucks on April 11, 2018.   The NBA Playoffs begin April 14, 2018.  If the timeframe of halfway is April 6, the timeline is awfully tight to get Embiid on the court for the playoffs.

Concussion cleared

The other serious component to recovery for Joel Embiid is the NBA concussion protocol. And the update addressed that as well.  An independant neurologist cleared Embiid of concussion symptoms. Now he must successfully accomplish the exertion portion of the protocol. A good explanation was detailed by A. Sherrod Blakely in a November 2, 2016 article:

"“From the NBA’s media central website, here’s a closer look at what the NBA’s Return-to-Participation protocol consists of: The return to participation protocol involves several steps of increasing exertion – from a stationary bike, to jogging, to agility work, to non-contact team drills. With each step, a player must be symptom free to move to the next step. If a player is not symptom free after a step, he stops until he is symptom free and begins again at the previous step of the protocol (i.e., the last step he passed without any symptoms). It’s important to note that there is no time frame to complete the protocol. Each injury and player is different and recovery time can vary in each case.”"

To be fair, recovering from eye surgery complicates the exertion stage somewhat. The “free of symptoms” requirement must be accomplished.  Even with the orbital fracture healing, Joel Embiid should be able to navigate the remainder of the concussion protocol.

No vision impaired mentioned

The report did not include any assessment with vision impairment. While that is not 100 percent conclusive proof that vision will not be affected, it’s a very good sign.  And very good signs is very important in the effort to project a key player’s return in terms of days, and not weeks or months.

No vision reference today is less complication later. While that doesn’t seem like much, it’s huge in terms of avoiding adding days onto the recovery time.

After all the medical matters are healed, checked off, and filed away, the team will need to get Joel Embiid back into NBA game playing condition. That will also include putting Embiid into comfort playing with facial protective gear.

Embiid getting some shots a week after surgery is huge. For the team, for the fans, but most of all, for Joel Embiid himself.

Crystal Ball

My crystal ball suggests that Embiid will be back in time to play with his teammates in round one. How the team plays until he steps foot onto the court may determine how much time or how quickly he is rushed back. After all, there is always that transition of time where medical science lands on the “he could, but it would be better if…”  And that is the part that makes forecasting Embiid’s return so cloudy.

What I can say is that this update is as good as can be expected. And for those who feel that Embiid is the only way the team wins in post season, this will brighten your spirits.

One more star aligning

But for the team currently on a 12 game winning streak, this is one more rope to grab onto. One more reason to hold the fort together. At the advent of a game for the 3-seed of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, this is the type of boost the team needs.

Next: Sixers have 3 All-Defense worthy players

Joel Embiid is further ahead than expected. And when it comes down to the question of whether Joel Embiid can play, we all know he will answer yes. We called the early surgery great news. Now that optimistic timetable appears to be taking place. In the end, this is one more star aligning. And if all the stars align just right, this could be the year for the Philadelphia 76ers to win an NBA Championship. After all, it would be the perfect encore to the Philadelphia Eagles winning their first Super Bowl. Right now, Embiid appears to be coming back sooner than later. How many playoff games will he miss? Hopefully no more than one.