Sixers center Joel Embiid appears to be making progress in his recovery from an orbital fracture and mild concussion, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link). Embiid missed Game 1 of the team’s series against Miami and is expected to miss Game 2, though he could return after that.
Head coach Doc Rivers said today that Embiid, who suffered his injuries against Toronto in Game 6 last round, is “feeling a lot better.” However, Rivers added that he doesn’t “want to give false hope either.” Philadelphia missed the star center’s presence in Game 1, as the team lost the rebounding edge 47-37 and lost the game by 14 points.
Embiid, an MVP candidate, is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 30.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He also made the All-Star team for a fifth consecutive year. It’s clear the Sixers will need his presence in order to make a lengthy playoff run.
Here are some other notes from the Atlantic:
- As Embiid continues his rehab, the Sixers plan to keep DeAndre Jordan in his starting role, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com relays. “We like DJ, we’re going to keep starting him whether you like it or not,” Rivers said. “That’s what we’re gonna do because our guys believe in him. It’s funny, at halftime, we asked our key guys, we were thinking about it because I thought Paul Millsap gave us decent minutes, and to a man, that’s where they wanted to go.”
- Raptors coach Nick Nurse admitted the team could use more depth next season, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star writes. Specifically, Nurse identified catch-and-shoot players and athletic wings as pieces he’d like to see the team pursue. “The more quality players you have the better chance you’re going to have to win,” he said as part of a larger statement.
- Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston explores how the Celtics could adjust if Marcus Smart (thigh bruises) isn’t 100% healthy. Smart, the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, finished with 10 points, six assists and two steals in the team’s Game 1 loss, shooting 3-of-11. His defense is especially important against the Bucks, who start Jrue Holiday at point guard. Holiday scored 25 points in Game 1.
IMO
76ers have a good chance to win both home games
Heat isn’t good on both offense and defense in Game 1
Saying something like this is crazy
Harden stats prediction
30, 10, 10
So the coaches thought Millsap gave them decent minutes, but Rivers asked the “key guys” and they voted for Jordan. Thanks Doc
He had Top Men on it… top men.
Is Docs way of passing the blame onto the key players and for not doing his job.
As harden gets mugged everytime he drives the lane and the whistles remain silent perhaps jojo with his broken face and thumb hanging off can return.
Toronto had great depth, but Nurse didnt go to it at times during the season, for whatever reason. A lot of it is a little redundant, but the one thing I would say is an extra shooter, which Dragic would have been perfect for if he were used correctly when he was briefly there…although obviously he had a lot going on at the time that made it difficult for him, so no telling if the same thing still would have happened. I just would have liked to see a couple of others get minutes, and I thimk Bpucher should have started at the 5 more throughout the season, which would have helped with their spacing issues
Doc Rivers is a clown and every year he exposes himself more and more and more
DJ can still board
Jordon was a -22 while on the court which means the Sixers out scored Miami by 8 when he was on the bench. Let the youngsters who can actually move play !