Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid is the latest NBA Masked Man

Philadelphia 76ers starting center Joel Embiid showcased his new protective face mask in warmups before the final game of the season today. He is the latest in a string of NBA masked men in the sports history

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is already an iconic NBA figure in just his second season in the NBA.  Even more dramatically, his official number of NBA games played is 94.  That’s hardly a number to draw sage experience from.  But Joel Hans Embiid is not an ordinary NBA Player. His path to the NBA is one that will likely never be repeated again.  After all, the 7-foot-2 250 pound Embiid did not turn towards basketball until later in life. And even after doing so, his first experiences with organized basketball came in limited doses.

He did not join the Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA Tournament. And once drafted, he did not join the Philadelphia 76ers active roster for two additional seasons. So his first year of 31 games in the NBA and his second season of 63 games in the NBA has left his background in basketball rather shallow.  Some cite the young center as “injury prone”. Perhaps. But it’s not fragility, as much as it’s his aggressive style of play on the basketball play.

Injured, but coming back

And it was that going for the ball that resulted in the freakish accident which sidelined him these past few weeks. While the Philadelphia 76ers never delivered a timeline for Embiid’s return, the rapid move to operate was hugely positive.  And as news continued to trickle in, we continued to become more optimistic in our projections for his return to health and to the team.

In the meantime, the team has used the time to continue to win.

Who is that masked man?

As we noted in several reports, the surgery to repair Joel Embiid’s  orbital fracture was simply the first of several hurdles. Immediately following the surgery, the injured site ran the risk of swelling and complications. Additionally, nearly 20 percent of those injured experience vision impairment. Thankfully, neither condition presented itself. Finally, the next step is donning protective gear to ensure no further reinjury to the site.

Now, Joel Embiid has not played in a protective face shield this season. So, introducing that gear to him at point blank range from the NBA Playoffs will be a distraction.  The solution is to let him shot while wearing the gea.  And thankfully, that is exactly what he has been getting familiar in  with in the protective facial mask

So that’s a huge sign that his return to the basketball court is that much closer.

Team leader

And even when he is not on the basketball court, he still uses social media to it’s utmost to ensure the team is aiming for the top.  It was Joel Embiid who shocked the NBA when he proclaimed the 76ers were a playoff caliber team while only 10-25.  Similarly, the next season Joel Embiid shocked the NBA once more when he declared that the Philadelphia 76ers would be ready to win when the Cleveland Cavaliers began to wane.  Now, that same social media savant has placed the team on notice once more. Can they do it?

Perhaps. Nobody saw the Sixers winning out to close the season. But #HereTheyCome anyways.

Winning streak

After all, what can you say about a team on a 15-game winning streak? Anything goes right? And with a team winning, there is the sense of calm patience over Joel Embiid’s return. After all, it appears that the team has used Embiid’s absence to fine tune the rest of the roster. After all, playing alongside Joel Embiid dictates much of the offense and defense runs through him.

But without him? The team learned to step up as a team. And they are still learning. Ben Simmons has filled in as the on-court leader. The wiley veteran play of Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli have been tremendous from the perimeter. And the entire roster has found ways to contribute.  Still, this is all well and good in regular season. But to win in the NBA Playoffs, the team will need all hands on deck.  That means Joel Embiid needs to come back.

Back to the masked man

There is no official timeline for Joel Embiid’s return. Can he appear in game one of the NBA Playoffs? Possibly, but unlikely.  After all, he has to feel comfortable playing in his mask. That will take time.

As for our predictions? We believe game two of the first round feels realistic at this point in time. And that will balance the team’s need to have Embiid on the court, with the team’s need to give him plenty of time to recouperate.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons Markelle Fultz 1st postseason experience

The Philadelphia 76ers have certainly taken the scenic route to get here. But with the team likely to land their 16th consecutive win, I don’t see how anyone can overlook these 76ers.  Yes, this team needs Joel Embiid back. But this team is not just about Joel Embiid any longer.