Update on the Joel Embiid front from Ramona Shelburne on NBA Today, via @sixers_galaxy:

“Well, [Joel Embiid’s] not anywhere close right now to coming back, but he is able to get on the court, do some light work. The hope that they have in Philly is that they can just stay in the mix for Joel Embiid to come back the last week or so of the season, and at least where he has a chance to get back some conditioning before the playoffs.”

The last Embiid report we got from Shelburne was that there was “optimism” from the Sixers Embiid could be back before the playoffs. Now the Sixers are hoping he’ll return the last week or so. Is hope better or worse than optimism? You gotta think worse, right? Optimism almost feels like he’s progressing along. Hope feels like you’re holding on for dear life. If you’re hoping to get back with your girlfriend, your relationship is probably cooked. She’s moved on and your friends just don’t have the heart to tell you yet. They don’t mention in Ted Lasso that “it’s the optimism that kills you.”

Tuesday marks exactly five weeks since Embiid has had his meniscus surgery. If Embiid does come back for the last week of the season it’ll be a 8-9 week recovery. Here are the final four games he could play in:

  • 4/7: at San Antonio
  • 4/9: vs Detroit
  • 4/12: vs Orlando
  • 4/14: vs Brooklyn

The good news is three of those teams should be in the lottery, so they’ll have an opportunity to make one last-ditch effort to stay out of the play-in tournament if they find themselves there. Tyrese Maxey is also back for Tuesday night’s game and the Sixers could find themselves in the #4 seed if they beat the Knicks.