After shooting just 3-of-9 from the field in Thursday’s loss to Boston, Joel Embiid told reporters he needs to “fix the problem” in his left knee before he can become dominant again, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
The Sixers‘ nightmarish season continued as their arch rivals embarrassed them by 20 points on their home court in their sixth straight loss. Embiid was limited to 15 points in 27 minutes, and Bontemps points out that his nine shot attempts were his lowest total of the season for a game in which he wasn’t ejected or didn’t have to leave early due to injury.
“The way I was playing a year ago is not the way I’m playing right now,” Embiid said. “It sucks. … I probably need to fix the problem, and then I’ll be back at that level. But it’s hard to have trust when you’re not yourself.”
There was hope that the week-long All-Star break might help Embiid recover from the ongoing physical issues that have limited him to 18 games this season. Embiid still hasn’t fully recovered from the lateral meniscus injury he suffered a year ago, and a report earlier this month indicated that he may need surgery once the season ends.
When he has been able to play, Embiid hasn’t been near the MVP-level force he was in recent seasons. He’s averaging 24.3 PPG, which is more than 10 points lower than a year ago. His 8.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game are also well below last season’s rates, and his shooting percentages have dropped sharply to 45% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range.
Any thought the Sixers might be giving to shutting Embiid down has to be balanced against their postseason chances. Even though they’re tied for the sixth-worst record in the league, they’re just a game and a half behind Chicago for the 10th spot and a berth in the play-in tournament. There’s still hope that they can sneak into the playoffs, and a healthier roster could make them a tough first-round opponent.
In the meantime, the focus will be on helping Embiid manage his knee issue so he can stay on the court as much as possible.
Embiid added that the week off helped “a little bit,” but he’s still not feeling like he normally does. However, he believes he can help the team even if he’s not 100%.
“I’m not as dominant as I was a couple of months ago, but that doesn’t mean I still can’t have a lot of impact on the game,” Embiid said. “Just me being out there, I think, helps a lot. My presence, my ability to attract double-teams, get guys more shots. It’s just tough because you know you can do so much more. But there’s no excuses. It’s just the way it is. You just have to find ways to figure it out and get better.”
He’s old, fat and broken. He isn’t fixing that knee. It’s chronic and only going to get worse. Sixers should trade him while they can. Maybe for Luka.
76ers biggest issue is defense – roster issue
This summer 76ers need this type of player – play top tier defense
Amen Thompson
Tari Eason
Cam Witmore
Caruso
LuDort
1 year total $50 million
Maxey and George can’t play defense.
Silly – you are obsessed with moving Thompson/Eason/Whitmore lmao. I see you use them as the solution for every franchise
A lot of this knee issues fall on Embiid. He has never taken conditioning seriously. He is never in shape at the start of the season and he is always working his way into shape during the season. U can’t be that big, overweight, not take conditioning seriously and just think my knees will get better
Why again did Philly let Joel Embiid compete in the Olympics???? Why did Joel Embiid feel such a need to compete in the Olympics rather than rest his body, or get surgery for the coming season???? Philly and Embiid are getting the outcome many people easily predicted.
Barry, I could see Philly hoping that meant he would be in better shape to start the season lol. Not saying it was a good idea but at this point they’re probably like just do anything different than what you have been doing every off-season.
Have Embiid go under the knife. Tank. Keep your pick and reset for next year. Who cares if you make the playoffs only to get bounced in the 1st round?
Thing is that’s probably their best case upside the next few years! Unless they get cooper Flagg perhaps
NBA would be crazy to gift them a lottery pick!
My best trade idea this summer
Paul George, 2 Firsts and 2 Swaps for Durant
Suns would have both George and Beal contracts. They love to pay luxury taxes
The Process year 11
Probably should not have “trust the process” when “the process” had never won a ring before.
If only you knew what the process was… and that it has been over for almost a decade… but ignorance always wins, right?
One of the top 2 or 3 what-might-have-been players in NBA history.
Let’s not act like he didn’t have opportunities to make noise in the playoffs… he simply didn’t play well enough to advance past the second round.
The biggest “what-if” is being mature in the offseason, working out and cultivating a mindset oriented towards performing at an elite level in the NBA postseason.
Anybody who thinks Embiid shouldn’t have the surgery right now is an idiot, and that includes all of the people in Sixers Management.
In a normal circumstance, you are absolutely 100% correct.
But call me an idiot because the Sixers know, and you know, and I know that Joel Embiid can’t play a full season.
It’s not necessary to have the surgery tomorrow and get him ready for opening day.
You can have the surgery at the end of this season and let him recover and be ready For January 1 or whatever the timeline would be.
Shutting him down now in order to get him ready for October 25 and playing a whole season is not what Joel Embiid is capable of anymore so surgery tomorrow is not the best decision for the team.
Let’s see what the Sixers can do in the very weak eastern conference playoffs? You can’t keep kicking the can down the road forever.
The “getting ready for next season” narrative is getting very old in Philly.
I agree with almost everything you say. My only issue is that the longer one has to recover from any surgery, the better. Performing the procedure at this time eliminates the risk of additional damage, and provides the longest recovery period.
Yes good call.
I think anyone who saw him in that last game would agree. It was almost sad to see him falling down every time he tried to make an offensive move and I’m no Philly fan. The guy just doesn’t belong out there right now
With Embiid, falling down after every offensive move doesn’t provide a reliable distinction between injured or not.
For me, this was a different falling watching the game. It was like his leg just refused to support him, as opposed to the foul baiting he can do at times
this is the end. 31 years old for a footer with bad wheels. time to call it a career
Shut him down. Give young players a chance to get experience in the meantime.
Channeling my inner Davey J and aristotle along with Sillivan
Sign and trade with the Dubs for Kuminga. Then Butler for KD in the offseason. Warriors dynasty continues.
You make about as much sense as those three wingnuts.
Thanks. That makes my post realistically close to that of those delusional posters.
The sixers are a joke. Fire Morey
I like this guy less and less everyday
Embiid is pissing me off ….the Sixers are unwatchable
It is a complete raging 10 alarm Dumpster Fire
Sixers need to trade him this summer. But they love him too much. Embiid for Zion.
Can’t fix a career-ending injury, Joel.
Joel it’s about time you said that.
Philly organization take your vanity of playing in a play in game or two and shove it somewhere.
It has gotten you nowhere the last couple of seasons.
6th worst record is still a playoff hopeful…
Ah the East…
it sounds like Embiid is begging for surgery…but for some reason they are instead resting his knee instead
Maybe it’s about time Jojo realizes that falling, and flopping around, might not be best for his knees.
Like I said, try to trade him this offseason, get as much assets possible …. trade Podcast/Pinky P as well.
Process 2.0.