Can the Sixers Stay Afloat Without Embiid?
The Sixers find themselves in a familiar situation yet again, with reigning MVP Joel Embiid out for an extended period, this time with a torn meniscus. They currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, only a half a game back from the fourth seed. However, they are also just two and a half games up on the seventh seed, which is critical since the seven through ten seeds must earn their playoff rights in the play-in games. Embiid is set to be reevaluated in approximately two weeks and is going to be out another month or so if he is able to return to the court.
With their next four games coming against the top four seeds in the East, it will be a difficult task to climb the standings. Will the Sixers be able to remain competitive without their superstar center? The answer starts with a firm yes and continues with two words: Tyrese Maxey. First-time All-Star Maxey will have to take on an even larger role than he assumed after the departure of James Harden in October. His season averages of 26 points, six assists, and four rebounds per game may have to see a slight uptick to withstand the absence of a 35-point-per-game scorer in Joel Embiid.
Maxey will be leading the charge, but he isn’t without legitimate supporting role players who can expand their roles when needed. Newly acquired sharpshooter Buddy Hield has averaged over 20 points per game in his first four games with the Sixers. He will continue to take on a large offensive role both scoring and playmaking, working beside Maxey in the backcourt. Tobias Harris is best suited as a third or even fourth option, but he typically steps up when Embiid is off the court. Kelly Oubre was providing bunches of points and stingy defense, and Paul Reed has played his role grabbing rebounds and hustling in place of the big man in the middle.
Those two rounded out the pre-All-Star break starting lineup, but the team is looking forward to getting a few players back from injury. Guard De’Anthony Melton and forward Nicolas Batum have missed the last several games due to nagging injuries, but both are expected to return to game action on Thursday when the Sixers face the Knicks. Both will be eased off the bench for the first number of games but expect one or both to assume their starting role back by the end of the regular season. They will provide three-point shooting, defensive versatility, and veteran leadership on the court. The team also signed guard Kyle Lowry from the buyout market, and the Philly native is expected to serve as the team’s backup point guard. It is both a hometown reunion and a player-coach reunion, as Lowry gets to play for Nick Nurse who was his coach in Toronto when they won the title in 2020. Two-way player Ricky Council IV has been giving the team phenomenal spot minutes as the rotation has been depleted and is impressing with his tenacity and rebounding prowess. The rotation is deep and talented, and despite Embiid being out for another few weeks at a minimum, the team will be able to stay in the top six of the East. By playoff time, the starters will consist of Maxey-Hield-Harris-Batum-Embiid, and rotational pieces will be Lowry-Melton-Oubre-Reed. That’s a pretty dangerous nine heading into the playoffs, but all of that will depend on the health of Joel ‘The Process’ Embiid.
