Just like that, the Philadelphia 76ers have once again been bitten by the injury bug. As reported, Joel Embiid will be missing the next three games at the very least due to a strained right oblique. The superstar suffered the injury during their previous game against the Heat, and while he did finish that game, he had to go to the locker room to manage it.
As a result, Philly will not have Embiid against their next three opponents in the form of the Celtics, Spurs, and Jazz. The 76ers do not need him to beat Utah, but facing San Antonio and Boston — two of the best teams in the league this season and the second seed in their respective conferences — will be a tall task without him.
But more importantly, it is a huge missed opportunity not to have Embiid when they take on the Spurs and the Celtics. The 76ers are in the chase for better positioning in the playoff picture out East, and not having their best player is not ideal since the team would want to see how it sizes up against the best of the best.
The 76ers will not have Joel Embiid against two of the league’s best teams
For now, the 76ers are fighting just to stay out of the play-in tournament picture. Only 1.5 games separate them from the seventh-seeded Magic, so they should probably be more mindful of that fact. Having said that, this team has lofty plans for the playoffs, so measuring up against the best teams in the league will be of utmost importance.
Having a full deck against Boston and San Antonio would have allowed for real litmus tests to see where this team currently stands at full health. Instead, Philadelphia will once again face those two championship contenders with a ragtag lineup, and given their struggles without the former MVP, they are going to be heavy underdogs in those outings.
Fortunately, it seems like Embiid will not be out for too long. With the Spurs and Jazz games comprising a back-to-back, the 76ers simply deemed it best to sit him out and have him be reevaluated after facing Utah.
Still, it is regretful that the 76ers have been deprived of the chance to showcase what they are capable of against elite competition. Hopefully, they can still make things interesting and pick up some crucial wins to help bolster their current placing in the standings.