Joel Embiid will miss his eighth straight game when the Philadelphia 76ers face the Houston Rockets on Friday night.
The Philadelphia 76ers have the best starting five outside Golden State when healthy. The latter part hasn’t been true of late, with Joel Embiid prepared to miss his eighth straight game Friday night.
Given Embiid’s stature and injury history, knee issues are worrisome. Tendinitis can be a nagging issue, so it’s something the Sixers (and Embiid) are wise to be proactive on. The fact that Jo himself brought it up is a positive sign considering his stubbornness in years past.
On the court, however, the issues are undeniable. With a healthy Embiid, the Sixers probably don’t get 20-pieced by Robin Lopez en route to a loss in Chicago. It also gives the Sixers a firmer grasp on the postseason race — or, more importantly, the race to not play Boston in round one.
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The Sixers should covet the third seed, which the Victor Oladipo-less Indiana Pacers currently possess. With a win over Chicago on Wednesday, the Sixers would have claimed that spot. Now they’re a half game back.
With two tough matchups on the horizon, the Sixers would earn a much-needed boost or experience a major setback. It starts with the Rockets on Friday, where the Sixers will face a different team and MVP candidate on the road. It will, of course, be without Embiid.
A win would move the Sixers into a virtual tie for third. They hold the tiebreaker over Indiana. With a loss, they move further back before going head-to-head with Indiana on Sunday — a game with massive importance on multiple levels.
There is optimism Embiid will return Sunday, with some of his absence feeling more precautionary than anything else. If the Sixers can beat both Houston and Indiana, they take a firm grasp on the third seed and get the tiebreaker. Even just a win over Indiana puts them in a favorable spot.
If the Sixers lose both games, however, it could make the third seed considerably more difficult to obtain. It would relinquish the record-based tiebreaker, which given the importance of not facing Boston in round one, could prove integral down the stretch. The Sixers want as many advantages as possible.
It’s also worth noting the Celtics are only 1.5 games behind the Sixers. There are enough games left for that to flip.
The Sixers need Embiid healthy and at full strength when the postseason hits. That’s should be the top priority. So, in a sense, the extra break is a positive. It gives Embiid time to recharge before playing career-high minutes in the postseason.
If that break ends up costing the Sixers’ valuable seeding, however, it could prove to be a double-edged sword. A healthy Embiid might not be enough to work the Sixers out of a difficult situation. Facing Boston in round one, even if winnable, doesn’t provide the easiest path toward a Finals appearance.
We’ll seed if Jo makes his return for Sunday’s showdown.