Just as Philadelphia sports seemed to be on the right track, we saw Joel Embiid hit the floor during the second quarter of the Sixers’ game against the Knicks. On a hand-off with newly-healthy guard Markelle Fultz, Embiid’s face made contact with Fultz’s shoulder, sending him reeling back in pain. Embiid laid on the ground for what seemed like an eternity within the silent Wells Fargo Center before standing up with the help of training staff and walking gingerly back to the locker room. Footage showed him collapse against the wall before security blocked the view.
As a 76ers fan, I’m constantly reminded of the injury-plagued players, and this situation seems like the same rhetoric.
After leaving the game, news broke that Embiid had suffered a facial contusion, and he would not return. Later reports came out saying that Embiid had passed concussion protocol, leaving many fans breathing a sigh of relief. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, though no timetable has been set for Embiid’s return. The Sixers face off against Atlanta on Friday, and his status is up in the air.
If this injury turns out to be worse than expected, the Sixers’ seeding in the playoffs could take a hit. I have great faith in the 24-year old Richaun Holmes. He’s averaging almost 52% from the field and just under six points per game this season. Embiid’s presence and productivity on the court, however, are incomparable. In just over 30 minutes per game, Embiid is averaging career-high 23.2 points, 3.2 assists, and a notch over 11 assists. He is also fifth in the league in blocks, with about 1.8 a game. Despite his flashy stat-line, Embiid’s appeal is much stronger in how his team plays around him. This season, he’s posted a STAGGERING +/- of 491 over 62 games. That number’s only comparable to a few of the league’s best.
This young team obviously relies heavily on the 7’ big-man, but they have a lot of pieces to build on, most notably Ben Simmons, who’s in strong contention for ROY. If Embiid were to be sidelined for an extended period, the Sixers may be able to hold their own against their upcoming schedule, but without the Cameroonian All-Star, there’s a small chance that they could hold on to their fourth seed.
The Eastern Conference in such tight contention. These next few games could prove to be the difference between a playoff series against the Pacers or the Raptors. Philadelphia would greatly prefer the former. Only time will tell when Embiid will be set to return. For now, the City of Brotherly Love should prepare to play a few games without The Process.