The reigning 2023-24 NBA MVP Joel Embiid returned to practice last week for the first time since January. The Sixers were able to run through an expanded practice thanks to his return. Embiid did not participate in every drill, but his health is improving since his knee surgery last month. The Sixers have targeted his return for the first or second week of April. That news comes at a pivotal time in the season for the Sixers. They are fighting to stay out of the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament with 11 games left in the regular season.
Joel Embiid to the Rescue
The Sixers Without Embiid
Right now, the Sixers have been abysmal without Embiid. They just won their 12th game of the season without him last night against the Los Angeles Clippers, and they sit in eighth place in the loaded Eastern Conference. Before Embiid went down with his knee injury in January, Philly looked like a title contender and a team that could challenge the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. Without his two-way ability, the Sixers are barely a playoff team. The scoring load has fallen on Tyrese Maxey, who just returned from a concussion two weeks ago. With all due respect to Maxey, he is one of the fastest rising young players in the league, but he does not have the abilities of a Joel Embiid. He has kept the Sixers afloat, but this team at its best maximizes the skills of Embiid.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture Impact
Before Joel Embiid went down with his knee injury he scored 35.3 points per game, grabbed 11.3 rebounds per game, passed for 5.7 assists per game, and had a 53.3% field goal percentage. He was having a better statistical season this year than he did last year when he won MVP and was on his way to a back-to-back MVP win. However, Jonathan Kuminga landed on his knee, which resulted in a Meniscus flap tear which led to last month’s surgery. If Embiid can come back healthy and playing like he was earlier in the season, the Sixers, who are currently in eighth place, can certainly get to the sixth or fifth spot in the Eastern Conference and avoid the Play-In Tournament. The imminent return of Joel Embiid would make the Sixers a title contender and the deadliest threat to the Boston Celtics’ and Milwaukee Bucks’ championship dreams.
