Joel Embiid is in much healthier shape for the 76ers to start the 2026-27 season, which is something elusive for both him and the team in recent years. While he is still recalibrating in his tweaked role for the squad, just the fact that he is out there playing is a big boost for the group. That, however, does not change the reality that the team must still exercise caution with his conditioning, and to that effect, Nick Nurse opted to sit him out for the entire fourth quarter in their last game against the Bulls.
With the plan already decided before the fourth quarter, Nurse cut Embiid's night short. After the game, the veteran coach explained the thought process behind the decision, calling it a way to manage the plantar fasciitis issue the All-Star center is currently dealing with. This move, however, could end up redounding their season-long approach with Embiid, and it is bound to ignite a debate among the fanbase.
The 76ers have employed a likely divisive way to managing Joel Embiid
With a 7-1 win-loss card as of writing, the 76ers have established themselves early on as a powerhouse in the East. That record is made all the more impressive by the fact that they have had one of the least forgiving schedules so far.
The Eastern Conference race is so tight right now that the 76ers should actively chase wins to finish with a top seed. And to do that, they need everyone to be present. Naturally, the more appearances they get from Joel Embiid, the higher their chances are to finish with a sterling record.
That, however, creates a divisive talking point. Embiid is still someone who needs to miss games by default in order to preserve his body for the playoffs, but the 76ers tout so much firepower that they can probably still win a bunch of games even with him sidelined. That is probably the most prudent approach to manage him this regular season.
But on the flip side, there is also the concern about the 76ers disrupting Embiid's rhythm and cadence with his other co-stars. He has had a pretty slow start so far, and he definitely needs more reps to figure out a way to better coexist with his other decorated teammates.
Fans are obviously leaning more into the short-term success of the 76ers given their desperate bid for the championship, which, of course, presupposes some sort of gamble on the team's part by playing Embiid more despite having even more talent around him. There are pros and cons on both ends of the spectrum, so whichever way the team veers, that debacle will keep bugging them until they ultimately accomplish their goal.
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