Sixers playoff basketball and an injured Joel Embiid… Name a more iconic duo. The Sixers have made the NBA playoffs the past 6 consecutive seasons; and in each post season, Embiid has missed time due to injury. Let’s explore what this means as the 76ers look to take on either the Boston Celtics or the Atlanta Hawks as soon as Saturday in the second round of the playoffs.
Embiid’s Injury Rap Sheet
Here’s a full breakdown of Embiid’s injury history in the playoffs:
2018 playoffs: In Game 4 of the first round against the Miami Heat, Embiid suffered a left orbital fracture and a concussion after colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz. He missed the next two games but returned for Game 3 of the second round against the Boston Celtics.
2019 playoffs: Battled knee tendinitis throughout the playoffs, which affected his mobility and conditioning. He missed one game in the second round against the Toronto Raptors due to the injury.
2020 playoffs: Suffered a left ankle injury during Game 4 of the first round against the Boston Celtics. He missed the next game but returned for Game 6, where he played through the injury.
2021 playoffs: Suffered a small lateral meniscus tear in his right knee during Game 4 of the second round against the Atlanta Hawks. He missed one game but returned for Game 6 and Game 7, though he appeared to be limited by the injury.
2022 playoffs: Already playing with a torn ligament in his right thumb (diagnosed after Game 3), Embiid suffered a right orbital fracture and mild concussion in Game 6 of the first round against the Toronto Raptors. Embiid missed 2 games and returned for Game 3 against the Miami Heat.
Now in 2023, it’s deja vu all over again. Embiid is dealing with a knee sprain, which sidelined him in Game 4 of the first round against the Brooklyn Nets. Fortunately, the Sixers managed to sweep the Nets without Embiid thanks to another strong performance from Tobias Harris.
Injured Again, Embiid’s Most Recent Injury
Joel Embiid suffered a knee sprain in Game 3 against the Brooklyn Nets while contesting a Cam Johnson layup in the third quarter. He landed awkwardly on the play while trying to avoid falling on Johnson. Embiid played the rest of the game and had a huge block in the fourth quarter, but was seen favoring his right knee and limping up the court the remainder of the game.
So what’s the timeline look like for returning from a knee sprain? Well, the timeline for returning from a knee sprain in the NBA can vary depending on the severity of the injury. A mild sprain may only require a few days of rest and treatment, while a more severe sprain could sideline a player for several weeks or even months. Fortunately for Sixers fans, Embiid’s sprain appears to be mild.
What Does This Mean For Round 2 of the Playoffs?
Honestly, I could write an entire post on the Sixers failing to make it past round 2 of the NBA playoffs, but I’m hoping this year will be different. By the way, here’s the definition of insanity by some famous mathematician:
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
– Albert Einstein
The good news is the Sixers organization is optimistic that Embiid will be ready for the start of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. With a healthy MVP-caliber Embiid, the Sixers have every chance of beating the Celtics (finally); and let’s face it, Atlanta isn’t going to win the series against Boston.
Still, the big man could use all the rest he can get. That’s why I’ve been a Hawks fan the past week. Boston leads the series against Atlanta 3-1. If the Celtics win Game 5, the Sixers could face them as soon as this Saturday. However, if the Hawks are somehow able to force a Game 6, the Sixers likely wouldn’t see action until next Monday at the earliest.
So, cheer up Sixers fans. Correlation doesn’t imply causation. Just because we’ve been through a roller coaster of emotions in the past, doesn’t mean the ride will go on forever. This is our year. Embiid will be ready for Game 1 against Boston. We will beat Celtics. Then we will beat whichever other jabronis make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. This is the year we make it to the NBA Finals and win it all. If not… well, if not… then this will have been the biggest ‘close but no cigar’ year I’ve ever witnessed as a Philadelphia sports fan.
