Joel Embiid must seriously consider bold strategy to save the 76ers season

The Philadelphia 76ers are bordering on disaster after a 2-12 start to the season. Joel Embiid was called out in a recent players-only meeting and is searching for who is responsible for the leak. Injuries have played a role, but the Sixers need more from their top players. Paul George is out and has not played well. Tyrese Maxey is just working his way back, but Embiid has been the biggest problem.

Fans saw him at the peak of his powers in the last two seasons. Embiid won MVP in 2023 and was averaging more than one point per minute played last year. Injuries limited him to just 39 games last season, but he has only played four times this year. There is a long-term plan to keep him healthy, but the franchise cannot win with this Embiid.

He has put up 19.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 block in 31.3 minutes per game so far. Embiid is shooting 37.9 percent from the field and 16.7 percent on his 3-point tries. The seven-footer looks slow and injured, which has some experts recommending this strategy to maximize the Sixers' odds.

Joel Embiid must consider sitting out multiple weeks to save the 76ers season

An injured Embiid is not helping the Sixers win. They are winless in the four games he has played and have been outscored by 31 points in his 125 minutes on the floor. Embiid is barely going for rebounds and does not trust his legs. It is championship or bust for Philly, and the Sixers cannot win with this version of Embiid.

The 76ers' early season woes were discussed on the Bill Simmons podcast, and it was Chris Ryan who offered this advice to the former MVP.

“My recommendation would be for Joel Embiid to go out and not play for four-to-six weeks to get as healthy as he can because I am going to try to drag my body through 35 minutes against Memphis is not helping them.”

Simmons agreed that Embiid needs to rest and improve his conditioning before returning. Fans can hear the full conversation below.

This is a bold ask for a team with the worst record in the NBA. Embiid missing four weeks would be at least 11 games on the sidelines, but the Sixers do not need that many victories to make the Play-In Tournament. They are only four games out of sixth, despite having two wins. Multiple teams with sub-.500 records may make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Getting Embiid back to form should take precedence over winning every regular season contest.

Getting Embiid 100 percent for the Christmas Day showdown against the Celtics could start a massive turnaround for the Sixers. They have a favorable slate to begin January with five back-to-backs in the month. It could let Philadelphia string together some wins as Embiid drops a nightly 35-point double-double.

The Sixers need Joel Embiid to be a superstar to win the championship this season. He is far from that player right now and a rest may be the only way to get there. Embiid has only played four times but is not right. Shutting him down may be the only way to get him back to his MVP form.

Will it happen? The Philadelphia 76ers would face significant scrutiny but should have their long-term goals in mind. If winning in the playoffs is what matters, the franchise should maximize those odds. Sitting Embiid out may be the answer, even if it is the one fans don’t want to hear.