After an impressive win on their season opener, the 76ers registered another big dub after pulling off a 29-point comeback victory over the Cavaliers in their home debut. Soon enough, Philly will face its first scheduling hurdle with a back-to-back against the Bucks and Pistons, and it will be made tougher by Joel Embiid missing one of those games, as confirmed by the superstar himself.
Shortly after their rousing comeback win over Cleveland, Embiid made it clear that he will not be in uniform for both of their upcoming games against Milwaukee and Detroit over the weekend, clarifying that he will only play in one leg of their back-to-back. He did not make it clear as to which game he will be suiting up for, but if anything, this should serve as a reminder for everyone that despite their hot start, the 76ers will remain cautious with the former MVP.
Joel Embiid drops key reminder amid the 76ers' hot start to the season
Embiid is much healthier to start this season compared to years past, but the 76ers will remain overly conservative with him –– and rightfully so. After all, the team has much more firepower even without their superstar big man, and given how early they are into the season, it is only prudent to keep him out of back-to-backs at this juncture. Going all-in on November is not the right approach.
Fortunately for the 76ers, Embiid will not be slated to miss games by default. After all, Philly only has 13 back-to-backs this season, three fewer than in the previous campaign. As long as they are not desperate for wins, they can afford to stick to their plan of giving him the time off in those grueling sets.
It is important for Philly to notch as many wins as possible in the regular season, but finishing with a top seed will be a moot point if Embiid is not healthy enough to play anyway. Hence, it is actually encouraging to see both him and the team be in unison about their approach when it comes to back-to-back games and, ultimately, preserving his body for April and beyond.
Of course, from a fan's standpoint, the 76ers should strive to have their full armory in every single game. However, this team is in the hunt for the championship, and they cannot afford to win the game only to lose in the real match. As good of a floor and ceiling raiser Joel Embiid is, a delicate approach is required with him, hence why he will continue to miss back-to-backs despite the group's momentum.
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