Sixers

This Theory About Joel Embiid’s Appendix and the Sixers’ Turnaround Makes a Lot of Sense

By Matt Schultz

Published: May 1st, 2026 · 1:28 PM EDT

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After falling behind 3-1 to Boston in their first-round playoff series, the Sixers responded with two of their gutsiest wins in decades to force a Game 7 on Saturday night. If you’re feeling a little whiplash today, I understand. I know I am. This turnaround from the Sixers is nuts. To say I didn’t see this coming is an understatement. I was so sure Boston was gonna roll that I pitched tanking the play-in to try to get a lottery pick – but from Game 3 on, these Sixers have looked like a completely different team. Thinking about where this squad was two weeks ago compared to now, I can’t help but ask myself: How is this happening?

I don’t have the answer. But this X user’s theory may be the best guess I’ve seen: 

What if Embiids appendix was what was actually cursed…

And it's gone now…

— rob (@avoidphillly) May 1, 2026

Coulda been. Coulda been a curse, absolutely. There are all kinds of curses. A witch one. You’re in the woods, somewhere you shouldn’t be, goofing around, and maybe a witch throws a curse on your appendix. Sure. Then there are curses of the sea, of course. Pirates of the Caribbean. That’s possible. Joel maybe got his hands on some sort of medallion, or coin. You don’t need to take an entire chest to be cursed; just taking the one gold token could be the trick. Captain Jack Sparrow had that going on. Turned into like a night-guy at night, out there on the boat. Then there was his run-in with Davy Jones. That was a little later on. He was playing the piano with his chin tentacles, Davy Jones was. Believe he was cursed as well. Pretty sure – 

But anyway, Joel’s appendix: Maybe cursed! It’s a good theory. Either way, it’s not our problem now. Good riddance. Onto Game 7. Let’s all have our appendixes removed beforehand in case ours are cursed, too.