Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers’ MVP, will undergo a “left meniscus procedure” and will be re-evaluated after four weeks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This timeline means that Embiid will not be able to qualify for the MVP award, as he will not reach the league’s 65 game minimum. However, there is a possibility that he could return for the playoffs. The 76ers are currently in 5th place in the east with a record of 30-19 and have 33 games remaining on their schedule.
Embiid’s performance this year has been nothing short of incredible. He was averaging 36.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. The only player to ever achieve similar numbers was Wilt Chamberlain in the 1963-64 season. Embiid’s shooting efficiency is also remarkable, as he was shooting 53.9% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range. No player has ever averaged 35 or more points per game while shooting at least 50% from the field and at least 30% from three.
Unlike many other big men in the league, Embiid was scoring from all areas of the court. He was averaging 4.6 made field goals in the restricted area, 2.7 made field goals in the paint (non-restricted area), and 3.3 made field goals in the mid-range. He was the only player in the league to achieve these numbers this year.
Defensively, Embiid was also making a significant impact. He averaged 1.2 steals and 1.9 blocks per game. According to Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, a metric that measures a player’s defensive impact per 100 possessions, Embiid had a +3.4 rating, which was tied for the fifth best in the league.
The Philadelphia 76ers are facing a major challenge as they try to replace Joel Embiid’s production while he is out with an injury. The team will be relying heavily on All-Star Tyrese Maxey to step up and fill the void. Maxey has been having an outstanding season, averaging 25.9 points and 6.4 assists per game. In his last five games, he has been scoring close to 30 points per game, shooting an impressive 47% from the field and 50% from three-point range.
Another player who could help fill the gap left by Embiid’s absence is Tobias Harris. In a recent game against the Dallas Mavericks, Harris scored 17 points, showing that he has the potential to contribute more offensively.
According to a report by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, the 76ers may be looking to make some additions to their roster before the trade deadline on February 8th. Buckley suggests that the team could be targeting a versatile wing player who can provide solid defense and a reliable outside shot. Some of the names that Philadelphia may be considering include Dorian Finney-Smith, Royce O’Neale, Jerami Grant, De’Andre Hunter, and Bruce Brown.
As the 76ers navigate through this challenging period without Embiid, it will be crucial for players like Maxey and Harris to step up and for the team to potentially make some strategic moves to strengthen their roster. The coming weeks will be a test of their resilience and ability to adapt to adversity.