Getting past the first round of the playoffs was always an arduous task for the Philadelphia 76ers. First off, they are up against a formidable foe, a bona fide championship contender in the Boston Celtics. Second, they are already without Joel Embiid, who is arguably their most imposing player on the roster in the postseason.
Now, it seems like the 76ers are not even going to get Embiid back anytime soon. As reported by ESPN's Jorge Sedano, the former Most Valuable Player has yet to resume basketball activities and that his status not only for the foremost games, but the first round itself, is in doubt. Apparently, at this juncture, he is unlikely to suit up for Philly against Boston.
If that holds water, the 76ers are basically as good as eliminated. There is simply no world where this team can sniff significant success in the playoffs without Embiid playing out there, and beating Boston with their current configuration is damn near close to being virtually impossible given the stylistic mismatch.
The 76ers have no shot if Joel Embiid does not return
Recuperation from appendectomy procedures does takes weeks, and Embiid is still too fresh from his recent surgery to even be thinking about shooting a basketball in training. As such, it is probably better to assume that he will not be able to make it in time to return and help Philly figured out the Celtics.
If so, that would end up becoing another lost chapter in Embiid's playoff resume which the basketball gods scripted in the worst way possible for him. In view of Boston's make-up, Embiid would have been a dominant force who could have opened up a lot of opportunities for his teammates.
Instead, the 76ers are navigating through a highly difficult matchup for them. The Celtics automatically have an edge in the math game with their three-point shooting, yet they are unable to make up for it simply due to their lack of sufficient ammo elsewhere to dampen whatever advantages Boston can create.
It is still early in the series, but for now, things are not looking good for the 76ers. Joel Embiid remains to be their biggest ceiling-raiser, and without him in the fold, this group's potential simply falls flat. Heck, to increase their odds of getting him back, they should extend the series as much possible.
But if their Game 1 performance is any indication, it might be time to start accepting their apparent fate.
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