Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid just can't seem to catch a break. Not even two weeks after he returned from an appendectomy that was announced out of nowhere, the 32-year-old has been ruled out for the 76ers' Game 2 matchup against the New York Knicks due to ankle and hip injuries, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
The 76ers will struggle to replace Joel Embiid in Game 2
Embiid missed the first three games of Philadelphia's first-round playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics. The 76ers went 1-2 in those games, and a large part of that was simply because of his absence.
The Kansas alum isn't the same player he was even a few years ago, but he still provides a ton of value. He is a strong paint presence on both sides of the ball, is practically unstoppable in the mid-range, and he has improved greatly as a playmaker.
Being without him on its own is going to be a tough challenge for the 76ers, who are already down 0-1 in the series, but that's especially true, given that they don't really have a good backup option.
Without Embiid, the 76ers will have to rely much more heavily on Adem Bona and Andre Drummond. And to say this is far from ideal for the team would be a massive understatement.
The 76ers' centers aren't good enough to step up without Joel Embiid
Bona has essentially been out of Philadelphia's rotation since Game 3 against the Celtics, and it's easy to see why. His defensive discipline is a major concern (he is averaging 2.3 fouls in 9.6 minutes this postseason), he has a very limited offensive game as someone who can't really provide any value outside of the paint, and he is not much of a rebounder.
There's still a lot to like about Bona (his athleticism, motor, defensive versatility), but if you're relying on him to play real minutes in a playoff game (against Karl-Anthony Towns, no less), then you're not in a great spot. Unfortunately for the 76ers, this is their reality.
To give credit where credit is due, Drummond was decent in Embiid's absence against Boston (eight points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 10-for-12 shooting from the field in Games 1-3). However, he still just isn't all that good.
The UConn alum is a fantastic rebounder, but that's about it. He is not a good defender in or out of the paint, he has a limited offensive game (even if he's trying to have that Al Horford/Brook Lopez mid-late-career development as a stretch big), he is not a good decision-maker or passer (even for his position), and he just doesn't provide a ton of value on the court.
Basically, everything that makes Embiid a valuable asset to the 76ers, Drummond is the complete opposite of. And with Philadelphia already aiming to facing a series deficit, things are not looking good following the latest update on the former NBA MVP.
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