Death, taxes, and the Philadelphia 76ers looking like a helpless case without Joel Embiid, who has now strikingly proven that he is still the man for this franchise.
As if there was any doubt (well, there actually were), the 76ers are still designed to have Embiid at the helm as their best player. Despite the ascent of Tyrese Maxey, who has looked like an MVP candidate for most of the season, their struggles without the former Most Valuable Player only reinforces the fact that Embiid remains the main propeller for this squad.
Following their embarrassing defeat to the Knicks at home to the tune of a 138-89 beatdown, the 76ers are now 1-6 without Embiid in the lineup since Christmas, which is around the exact juncture when the superstar started regaining his groove.
Time and time again, Philly keep outdoing itself for all the wrong reasons the moment Embiid is not on the hardwood. And while this is vindication for his relentless believers, the 76ers cannot possibly look at this shard of reality and rest easy.
The 76ers continue to be a helpless case without Joel Embiid
This is not a knack on Embiid's skill level or a judgment on his longevity, but the fact that the 76ers already have an All-NBA caliber in Maxey but remain this unwatchable without Embiid should be something the front office should be ashamed of. They still do not have a reliable security blanket to absorb his sporadic absences that can translate to wins, and that is a huge problem moving forward.
Embiid is not getting any younger, and while he has definitely been one of the best feel-good stories in the league this season with his resurgence, he is already on the wrong side of 30. The 76ers are also not going to do away with their conservative approach with regard to his playing condition. In fact, the team will only adopt even more wary measures to ensure that he is ready to play when it matters the most.
Sure, the East may be more wide-open than before, but this should not be transposed into an ostensible license for them to settle with their flawed design without Embiid. Maxey will be Maxey, but the 76ers need to surround him with a more reliable supporting cast. Augmenting the center position behind Embiid –– a long overdue edict that remains unobserved –– is also a non-negotiable. So far, there really is no tangible plan to build a winning setup without Embiid.
So far, the front office has not been proactive enough in giving the 76ers the required ammo to cater to Embiid's growing necessities from a basketball standpoint. This has been the norm for years now, and until they are able to figure things out, they willlagain be forced to deploy Embiid more than they should until they wear him out.
Rinse and repeat.