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What If the Sixers’ Load Management Plan With Joel Embiid Works?
By Sean Barnard
Published:
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t feels a fitting description of the Sixers’ management of Joel Embiid.
In a perfect world, it would be ideal if Embiid could play every game. But you live through the necessary evils of your superstar, as does every team in the NBA and, really all professional sports. Inconsistent availability is the unfortunate card that was dealt along with the former MVP. Even as he is sometimes discussed like damaged goods, Embiid is posting averages of 26.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across his 36 games played this season. Sure, he is not the surefire top-five player in the league that he looked to be in his peak. But he can show these flashes on any given night and is still a clear top-25 player just about every time he is out there.
For years, the Sixers fan base has screamed for the organization to do whatever it takes to get Embiid to the playoffs healthy. For all the talk of his playoff shortcomings, we have seen the superstar be fully healthy once in the playoffs in his career. This came after the sport was forced to be sidelined for months due to the pandemic and took place on the most poorly designed Sixers team of this era- shoutout Al Horford and his miserable sister.
For the first time in his career, Embiid seemingly has taken this advice. His trainer, Drew Hanlen, provided a bit of a peek behind this current mindset shift earlier this year.
The Sixes carry a double edged sword with their decisions with the superstar. When Joel Embiid is on the floor, it obviously improves the Sixers’ chances of winning games. Just this season, they hold a 23-13 record when Embiid is on the floor and 18-21 without him. Across his career, the Sixers are 318-170 when Embiid plays and 122-184 in games that he has missed.
But we have seen the dance plenty of times before. Excluding last season’s disaster, the Sixers won 47+ games in seven consecutive seasons, including 50+ in four of these. They qualified for the playoffs in each of these seasons. Philadelphia was the one seed in 2021 and a top-three seed in four of these seasons. All of these have resulted in the team still failing to make it past the second round.
Sure, there is a fair argument to push back that you cannot have postseason success while sacrificing the chemistry and the ability to learn to play with each other. But do we know this without trying?
There is never going to be a completely clear path to Embiid remaining healthy. But seeking an alternate route is worth an attempt. If anything, it was reassuring to hear Embiid speak positively about the status of his knee, even if it was a completely different issue that kept him sidelined.
One side effect of Embiid being a bit more cautious with his body is him being able to pick up where he left off in a way that has not been true in his career. Historically, it has taken Embiid a few games to find his rhythm, and some of the first games back from injuries have been some of his ugliest performances. After missing 13 games with the oblique injury, Embiid returned against the Chicago Bulls to drop 35 points, seven assists, and six rebounds in a victory over the Bulls.
The reality is, the Sixers are trying to thread an impossible needle of getting oft-injured stars to the finish line while playing together enough to build chemistry. More than he gets credit for, Embiid has gotten on the court as often as possible and played through issues he probably shouldn’t have in the past. With a mindset shift this year, he is now seven games away from entering the playoffs as healthy as he ever has. Any concerns over seeding should fall secondary to optimism of his health status.
This may all be for nothing. The Sixers have already hedged their bet on this max contract trio by establishing a long-term backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe. But their chips have already been pushed toward the middle with this current core. Embiid is under contract through the 2027-28 season with a 2028-29 player option that Embiid has a $66.9 million reason to pick up. George is under contract for next season with a 2027-28 player option worth a projected $56.6 million.
But for the time being, there are seven games to go with the Sixers controlling their destiny from here. None of the past attempts have worked, and it should be viewed as refreshing that a different game plan was put on display this year. This could change on any given step, but for the time being, it should be praised that Embiid is as close as ever to entering a playoff run in a healthy state. Why not buy in one more time?
Sean Barnard has covered the Philadelphia 76ers and general Philly Sports for over six years in a variety of roles and for multiple outlets. Currently works as a Content Writer for DraftKings Network, Sixers/NBA Insider for Philadelphia's Fox Sports the Gambler, and co-host of Sixers & Phillies Digest on Youtube. Forever Trusting the Process.