Joel Embiid, the superstar center for the Philadelphia 76ers, recently underwent surgery to address a torn meniscus in his left knee. This is a major blow for both Embiid and the 76ers, who rely heavily on his MVP-caliber production.
Our team at NBA BLAST made a few suggestions on how the 76ers should adress this situation.
Scroll down and see with what we came up with!
Details on Embiid’s Knee Injury and Surgery
Embiid suffered the knee injury during a game against the Golden State Warriors on February 1st, 2023.
He was diagnosed with a displaced flap tear of the lateral meniscus. This type of tear often requires surgical repair.
On February 7th, Embiid underwent successful surgery on his left knee meniscus.
The 76ers announced he will be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks. At that point, the team will have a better idea of his recovery timeline and the possibility of returning before the playoffs.
Impacts of Embiid’s Absence
Losing Embiid for an extended period is a huge blow to the 76ers‘ championship hopes.
Through 34 games, he was putting up MVP-type numbers, averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.
He was also scoring at an incredible efficiency with a true shooting percentage of 67%.
Without Embiid anchoring the offense and defense, the 76ers struggle. So far this season, they have gone just 4-11 in games that Embiid has missed.
The lack of a reliable backup center exacerbates the issues when Embiid is sidelined.
In addition to on-court production, Embiid‘s injury affects the 76ers in the following ways:
- Takes them out of contention for the No. 1 seed in the East
- Puts more offensive load on Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris
- Allows opponents to double team Maxey more aggressively
- Weakens their interior defense and rebounding
Adjustments Without Embiid
The 76ers coaching staff and players will need to make several key adjustments without Embiid anchoring the team on both ends of the court. This includes:
Greater Ball Movement
Without Embiid to dump the ball into and initiate offense, the 76ers will need to focus more on ball movement, cutting and screening to create open looks.
Increased Pace
Pushing the pace can help manufacturing easy scoring chances for players like Oubre, Maxey and Harris. It also puts pressure on opposing defenses.
Crashing the Offensive Glass
The 76ers should aggressively attack the offensive boards to create second-chance opportunities. This can help offset some of the lost interior scoring.
Timetable for Embiid’s Return
The team has not provided an exact timeframe for Embiid‘s return.
The initial prognosis was that he will be re-evaluated in four weeks. At that point, the doctors will have a better sense of how his rehab is progressing.
In a best case scenario, Embiid could return shortly after the four week mark, which would be early March.
However, the more likely scenario is Embiid misses 5-8 weeks. This would put his return in mid-to-late March.
How the 76ers Can Weather the Storm Without Embiid
Despite losing Embiid for an extended stretch, all hope is not lost for the 76ers over the next 5-8 weeks. Here are some keys to staying afloat in the East playoff race until Embiid returns:
1. Unleash Maxey as a First Option
With Embiid out, Tyrese Maxey will need to step up as the primary scorer and offensive creator.
After a couple of minor injuries, Maxey had picked up his scoring and efficiency in January. He will need to be even more aggressive looking for his own shot out of the pick-and-roll.
2. Trade for Shooting and Depth
Using their various trade assets, the 76ers should target more shooting and depth at the trade deadline. Players like Doug McDermott, Alec Burks or Buddy Hield could help provide some needed scoring pop.
3. Tweak Defensive Scheme
Without Embiid protecting the rim, the 76ers may need to rely more on switching and trapping pick-and-rolls while funneling drivers into help. This can prevent easy baskets at the basket.
4. Unleash Young Players
The loss of Embiid allows the 76ers to experiment with young players like Paul Reed, Jaden Springer and Isaiah Joe. This provides valuable experience that pays dividends down the line.
Outlook for 76ers With and Without Joel Embiid
When healthy, the Philadelphia 76ers can compete with any of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. The combination of Embiid, Harris and Maxey rivals any “Big Three” in the league.
However, Embiid‘s four-to-eight week absence makes it very tough for the 76ers to maintain their standing near the top of the East. It more likely knocks them down to fourth or fifth in the standings.
Upon Embiid‘s hopeful return in March, the 76ers should have enough time to regain chemistry entering the playoffs. With their full complement of stars, they remain dangerous and among the top contenders in the conference.
But their championship odds and ceiling undoubtedly take a hit with Embiid sidelined during the stretch run. They will need him at full strength to make it out of what should be a gauntlet Eastern Conference playoffs.
