Sixers

Joel Embiid is Doing Skeleton Work

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: May 2nd, 2023 · 2:46 PM EDT

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Joel Embiid update:

Here's everything Doc Rivers said about Joel Embiid.

– Still likely doubtful, but working out today
– Doing some running today, skeleton offense, etc.
– Key is to see if there's increased swelling tomorrow
– When he comes back, Joel is going to be tired, rotations might change pic.twitter.com/amyZHRfeq1

— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) May 2, 2023

“Just doing some skeleton work, meaning running through our shell offense, and (going) up and down a couple of times and seeing how he does and how he fares.”

Good to have the clarification there, because “skeleton work” had me worried. Were we talking about witchcraft? Necromancy? Occultism? The black arts? Put a top hat on Joel and he’s Baron Samedi from the James Bond film. Surely there’s a voodoo ritual to heal an LCL sprain.

The question that we probably do not have the answer to is one of net benefit. If Embiid does not play in game two, but comes back for game three, how much does an extra 48 hours of rest and recovery help? How much of a quantifiable difference does it make? The doctors would have to explain how much of this is pain management vs. structural integrity, i.e. do you risk a setback or further damage if he returns too soon?

Perhaps we will find out soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjWHY8WZHZE