Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers have already deliberate some scheduled absences for the 2023 NBA MVP this season. Embiid, who has struggled with accidents since being drafted third general within the 2014 NBA Draft, made a startling proclamation about his enjoying standing going ahead because it pertains to back-to-backs.
“If I needed to guess, I might in all probability by no means play back-to-backs the remainder of my profession,” Embiid advised ESPN.
The reasoning behind it’s easy: the Sixers and Embiid need him to be wholesome for the postseason, and if which means sitting out video games in the course of the common season to make sure he is able to enjoying heavy minutes within the playoffs, then so be it. That is much more true provided that that is the perfect Sixers roster assembled since Embiid’s been the franchise star.
Including Paul George this summer time offers the Sixers one other star participant to go to on offense, particularly when Embiid’s not on the ground or lacking a recreation. Reuniting with Andre Drummond to be Embiid’s backup ensures there’s not a big drop off on the defensive aspect of the ball when the Sixers star is on the bench, and even including on somebody like Caleb Martin and bringing in Eric Gordon offers the Sixers depth to permit Embiid to not should play so many minutes till the postseason.
Whereas the Sixers have been a superb crew through the years, they have not been capable of determine issues out when Embiid misses time or if he is on the bench. Final season, the Sixers had been 5.9 factors per 100 possessions higher when Embiid was enjoying in comparison with when he sat. That pattern is analogous if you happen to stretch again to the 2020-21 season, too. You’ll be able to simply have a look at the wins and losses to see how a lot of an affect Embiid has. Previous to him going out with a knee harm that compelled him to overlook 28 video games final season, the Sixers sat fifth within the East. With Embiid out, the Sixers ended up having to undergo the play-in to earn the No. 7 spot within the East playoffs.
The hope is that with the additions of George, Martin, Drummond, Gordon and the continued ascension of Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers will be capable of not solely keep afloat with out Embiid, however nonetheless be dominant.Â
However the place this will get fascinating for Embiid is whenever you begin crunching the numbers to see how this may play out. Philadelphia has 15 back-to-backs this season, so if Embiid really intends on sitting no less than one recreation in every of these back-to-backs, he is already assured to overlook 15 video games. That places him enjoying a most of 67 video games. That does not embrace any attainable one-off video games Embiid could also be out as inevitable illnesses that pop up, placing him dangerously near lacking that 65-game threshold the league now requires to be eligible for many end-of-season awards. In different phrases, we may see a second consecutive season of Embiid not making an All-NBA crew, in addition to not being eligible for awards like MVP, Defensive Participant of the Yr and All-Defensive groups.
That will not be one thing Embiid cares about although, as he advised ESPN, “I’ve achieved every thing [individually], however there’s one factor lacking, which is to win a championship.” With that in thoughts, it seems Embiid is concentrated on one factor this season greater than ever, which is to win a championship. And him not enjoying in back-to-backs is a serious step in guaranteeing he is wholesome for what the Sixers hope to be a protracted postseason.
