Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers: On the next game, let Joel Embiid rest

By Matty Breisch

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 23: Jonah Bolden #43, Furkan Korkmaz #30, and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers watch the game from the bench against the Portland Trail Blazers in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on February 23, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Trail Blazers defeated the 76ers 130-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 23: Jonah Bolden #43, Furkan Korkmaz #30, and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers watch the game from the bench against the Portland Trail Blazers in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on February 23, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Trail Blazers defeated the 76ers 130-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Joel Embiid is in the middle of a streak.

After being saddled with the “injury-prone” label early in his career thanks to a string of misfortune that prolonged his NBA debut by two seasons, the general consensus around the NBA has not been if Embiid would miss time with an injury, but when.

That perception explains why Embiid was bypassed for Rookie of the Year, why he finished second in the MVP race behind Nikola Jokic in 2021, and why he hasn’t been crowned the consensus for this year’s award halfway through the season.

But do you know how to end that perception? By playing 21 games in a row and putting up a stat line of 33.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over that period. There’s no doubt about it; Embiid is on a roll, and the NBA is taking notice, but do you know what? Sometimes, even the best players need to take a break, even if they are quite literally the entire offensive and defensive identity of their team.

Hey Philadelphia 76ers, give Joel Embiid a break.

The Philadelphia 76ers need to take an L to keep Joel Embiid fresh.

Over the past 30 games, the Philadelphia 76ers have a combined record of 20-10, including a 7-3 record over the past 10 games.

That mark is very good. It vaulted the team from understandable underachievers to legitimate challengers for a top-four spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs and made more than a few people bang their hands on the table for the sort of franchise-altering trade that puts the team within a punch’s shot of a parade down Broad.

But do you know how to really maximize the Sixers’ potential? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not making a massive trade for Tyrese Haliburton, or even getting Ben Simmons back on the court after the deadline. No, the best chance the Sixers have at doing some damage in the playoffs is ensuring that Embiid is healthy enough to play at his current level.

Need proof? Well, look no further than the 2021 playoffs, when Embiid was hobbling around on a partially torn meniscus. Had he been healthy, the Sixers likely would have steamrolled the Hawks and would be in a much different place as a franchise right now.

Granted, that loss forced Embiid to elevate his game to a previously unseen level, and quite literally become the best version of himself but frankly, I don’t know if there is another level. Losing Embiid now, or seeing his game diminish due to injury would simply serve as a wasted year of his prime. Daryl Morey doesn’t get a better trade package for Simmons if Embiid gets hurt and a very weird season would surely end up a disappointment instead of a triumph of 21’s will.

Would sitting out Embiid for, I don’t know, a game every three weeks really hurt the team’s place in the standings all that much? I get wanting Embiid against the Brooklyn Nets, the Boston Celtics, or the surprisingly fun Cleveland Cavaliers, but against the Memphis Grizzlies, on a random Monday night in January with no tie-breaking potential on the line? Yeah, I think the Sixers could afford to sit Embiid out for a game and let Tyrese Maxey test his mettle versus fellow rookie contract guard Ja Morant.

dark. Next. Tyrese Haliburton vindicated the trade nerds

Facing off against the Sacramento Kings, Joel Embiid looked tired. Mind you, he turned things on in the second half and still finished off the game with 36 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, but after having a tough time versus Willy Hernangomez a few days earlier, it’s clear the Philadelphia 76ers’ best player could use a little R&R, even if it results in a loss. Why? Because an occasional loss without Embiid is a whole lot better than wearing him out before the playoffs or worse, risking injury due to being overextended.