The Philadelphia 76ers have just achieved a rare feat, overcoming a 3-1 deficit after escaping Game 7 with a win. They finally exorcised their demons against the Boston Celtics, and now they advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals to face the New York Knicks for a shot to avenge their loss to the same team a couple of years ago.
However, the 76ers seem to have paid a colossal price to trump the Celtics. Joel Embiid, who had a monstrous game with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six rebounds, got banged up a handful of times in Game 7. That is certainly worth monitoring for Philly's brain trust as they now have to face a quick turnaround ahead of their matinee in the Big Apple.
The 76ers were finally able to topple the Celtics in the postseason for the first time in the Embiid era and made history in accomplishing that, but Embiid's status could cast a huge cloud on their collective ceiling in the playoffs. For now, there seems to be little concern about that as they are riding the highs coming off their monumental win, but it cannot just be glossed over.
The 76ers could face a grim outlook with Joel Embiid despite Game 7 win
Embiid went back to the locker room a couple of times in this game, and there was even an instance where the training staff was basically stretching out the entire right side of his body. He caught two friendly fires in this contest, which banged up his knee twice. Fortunately, he managed to stay on the hardwood and make some timely buckets to lead the 76ers to victory.
The 76ers will remain on the road as they visit New York for Games 1 and 2, which will require them to double down on getting Embiid right just in time for the start of the Conference Semifinals. Unlike Boston, the Knicks will have their full armory of players available to begin the series, so the prospect of Embiid missing time would be an instant death knell for the squad.
Given how dominant Joel Embiid has looked since returning from his appendectomy procedure, the 76ers simply cannot afford to not have him out there on the floor. The Knicks might just be the most formidable team remaining in the East, and Philly stands to have no chance at an upset without their biggest ceiling-raising stud.
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