More Positive Joel Embiid News, The Latest Update From Nick Nurse
For weeks, it was all silent on the Sixers’ front about Joel Embiid. From when he first underwent surgery on his meniscus, we went a long time without any Joel Embiid news. Positive or negative.
The lack of news, made Sixers fans fear the worst. But lately, the Sixers have finally been giving updates. Nick Nurse gave one positive update over the weekend. And now, before Wednesday’s game in Phoenix, he had more positive Joel Embiid news.
The Joel Embiid News We Wanted To Hear
Joel Embiid is ramping up. He has been back on the practice court for several days now. Next, they hope he can start doing 1 on 1s, followed by 5 on 5s. All with the hope he can return in early April, a few weeks before the playoffs begin.
There is still a bit to go. He is not even cleared for contact yet. But it is good news, and that is a whole lot better than the no news we have been getting.
The Sixers and Joel Embiid have been insistent all along that he will return this season. Now we are being given reason to believe them.
Need Joel Embiid Back
The news couldn’t come at a better time. The Sixers badly need Joel Embiid back. Going into the Suns game, the Sixers played 34 games with him, and 34 games without him.
In the games Embiid played, they were 26-8 (.765). That is the 2nd best-winning % in the NBA, only behind the Celtics. Without him, they are 12-22 (.353). Only 7 teams in the NBA have a worse winning percentage.
By the end of the Suns game, they could be as low as the 8 seed, or as high as the 6 seed. There is a .5 game between them, the Pacers, and the Heat. There is a real danger they will be in the play-in game. They might not even get to play at home.
Getting that 6 seed will be key, especially because it would allow them to avoid the Celtics in the first two rounds of the playoffs if they do advance.
You also want Embiid to have as much time to ramp back up before the playoffs as possible. The closer he can get to the level he was playing at before he got hurt, the better chance the Sixers have to make some noise in the playoffs.
Don’t give up on them just yet. Hopefully, there is more positive Joel Embiid news to come.
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