The Philadelphia 76ers have dropped their last two outings, which is probably not surprising given that they were without Joel Embiid on both occasions. The superstar has been one of the biggest feel-good stories in the league this season, but it seems like his heavy load since the calendar flipped has started to catch up to him once again.
As reported by multiple outlets, Embiid is currently experiencing some soreness on his right knee, which caused him to miss the Portland and New York games. While the swelling has gone down, the 76ers are most certainly not going to take their chances, which is definitely wise given that the All-Star break has already begun. Having said that, if we are being real, the team itself is at blame here.
Embiid will be reevaluated when the 76ers get back from the brief interstitial, and while this will most likely not reveal anything outside of their range of anticipated outcomes, the main reason why he is getting those nagging discomfort once again is something entirely imputable to the team and how they have been using him so far this season.
The 76ers are relying so heavily on Joel Embiid and it is affecting him negatively
Embiid has been sensational since the calendar flipped, which has led to him getting more minutes and having a much more frequent presence for the squad. But having said that, the 76ers have routinely banked on him heavily, and the consequences are starting to show.
At his very best, Embiid is still an MVP-caliber talent. However, his body requires a delicate approach to preserve, but the 76ers are not really being proactive in helping him take in the bumps and bruises that come along with his prominent role and exposure on the hardwood.
Since January began, Embiid has averaged 34.2 minutes per game — a figure that would have ranked 14th among all players. Nick Nurse and the coaching staff have not shied away from playing him as many minutes as possible, but that is something they should reconsider after the All-Star break.
The 76ers have a grand vision for their probable return to the postseason this year, but they do not stand a chance of making noise in the playoffs without Joel Embiid playing at peak capacity. But to get to that point, it is imperative for the team to find more ways to temper his minutes and, as they say, protect him from himself.
That way, they can ensure that their return to the playoffs will be hope-filled right from the get-go.