Sixers can handle business in Game 5 — even without Joel Embiid

Following the Philadelphia 76ers‘ disappointing Game 4 loss in the nation’s capital, the series now shifts back to the Wells Fargo Center — where the Sixers, likely without Joel Embiid, will seek to close out the series under the watchful eyes of a full-capacity crowd.

The Sixers do not want to play with their food. The Wizards are woefully undermanned and outgunned, but letting this series trickle back to Washington up 3-2 — even if it gives Embiid more time to recover — is not how Philadelphia wants this series to play out. The sooner Washington is put to bed, the sooner the Sixers can move on and evaluate Embiid’s path to a return. Ideally, the Knicks push Atlanta a game or two further, and that’s how Embiid can rest.

A Game 5 victory at home is of paramount importance. The Sixers should look to make a statement.

The Sixers don’t want to make this series longer than it needs to be. Game 5 is winnable, and the Sixers must win.

All signs point to Embiid missing Game 5 due to right knee soreness. While the long-term nature of his injury is not yet disclosed, there is optimism around his status moving forward in the postseason. As the Sixers continue to gather information and study tests, however, one should not expect a surprise appearance from the MVP candidate Wednesday night.

That means Philadelphia will need to close out the series without Embiid, its best player and operational hub on both sides of the ball.  No Embiid hollows out the middle of the court defensively, and it removes the Sixers’ most reliable go-to scorer from the mix. That’s a hard hole to plug.

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Even so, the Wizards are the Wizards — a team four games below .500 with several key players injured and a remarkably inept defense. The Sixers can (and probably should have already) win without Embiid on the court.

It all starts, of course, with Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris. In Game 4, Simmons only played 25 minutes due to foul trouble. He cannot find himself in a similar situation again, for the Sixers need every minute of his downhill attacking and propulsive playmaking. Tobias Harris is coming off one of his worst games all season, a troubling flashback to his deficiencies of yesteryear. He needs to simplify his game and make the right plays to keep the offense flowing.

Doc Rivers must also coach a better game than he did in Game 4. Without Embiid, the Sixers need more playmaking avenues in the halfcourt. Ride the hot hands of George Hill and Tyrese Maxey, even if it comes at the expense of some Seth Curry or Matisse Thybulle minutes here and there. In general, Simmons + Harris + three guards is an intriguing and effective offensive group. I promise Mike Scott does not improve the defense with his, uh, physicality.

The Sixers have enough firepower in the second unit and starting five combined to out-execute and out-score the Wizards’ two-pronged attack of Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, especially with Davis Bertans out of the mix. Washington does not have the supporting cast necessary to uplift its stars, and the Wizards’ defense should not find similar success to Game 4 on the road.

For the first time in over a year, the Wells Fargo Center will provide a full capacity crowd to cheer on the Sixers and antagonize the Wizards. If that isn’t enough pure ecstasy to propel Philadelphia to victory, then color me concerned.