Joel Embiid is expected to make his season debut for the 76ers after injuries and a suspension

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid is expected to play for the Philadelphia 76ers this week — barring another setback, and there’s always that chance with the 7-footer — after he wins Olympic goldsigned a Contract extensionwho suffered a knee injury was the trigger for two NBA investigations. argued with a columnist and was penalized with a technical foul waved a towel from the bank.

Oh, and to make Philly’s season even worse, the 76ers just aren’t a very good team without Embiid.

They are actually one of the worst teams in the NBA.

The Sixers can only hope their fortunes turn on Tuesday night when Embiid, a two-time league leading scorer, makes his highly anticipated first start of the season against the New York Knicks when both teams play in the NBA Cup round . Robin. Embiid last played for the Sixers in May when they were eliminated at home Game 6 of New York in the first round of the playoffs.

Embiid, a seven-time All-Star, is returning from what the team described as left knee management and the end of a three-game suspension for shoving a member of the media while the Sixers were 2-7 at the bottom of the Eastern Conference .

“Without the big guy, we’re not where we want to be,” Sixers first-year forward Paul George said. “Someone as talented as him. He is the piece. We should still be playing and competing at a high level and trying to win games. No doubt, if you get someone like that, it will make everyone’s job a little easier.”

The 76ers’ problems can’t just be boiled down to Embiid’s 17-foot height.

George, that expected Free agent signing coup of the summer, has been able to play in just four games this season due to a knee injury, forcing him into a minutes restriction that cost him all of overtime in a win Sunday against Charlotte. Tyrese Maxey, an All-Star last season and the league’s most improved player, could be out for another week to 10 days Hamstring injury. Backup centers Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele can’t come close to matching Embiid’s peak performance.

“I think we’re still trying to figure this thing out,” George said. “I’m still trying to get in shape and get my legs back under me. I’m going to get these legs back under me. I think we’re showing signs of just competing and playing hard. Just leave it on the floor. I think that was the message. No matter what is happening, just leave it on the floor, play hard and with maximum effort. We can all bring that.”

In terms of size and stature, the 76ers have focused on Embiid since his rookie season. Without a game in his jersey number, 21, this season has been full of hardships for the 30-year-old franchise anchor. Yes, some of the problems are his own fault, some are intentionally hidden, and some are just simmering frustrations coming to a boil over more games on the sidelines.

By his own admission, Embiid says he will not play back-to-back games this season, meaning he will sit out Wednesday’s game against Cleveland. Sixers fans know the drill – tickets for Wednesday are listed on secondary markets like StubHub for as low as $10 in the high range and around $30 in the 100 range.

Belief in Philly that the 76ers will ever win a championship with Embiid has fallen faster than ticket prices.

The 2023 NBA MVP’s latest trouble stemmed from a dispute with a Philadelphia Inquirer writer who mentioned Embiid’s late brother and son – both named Arthur – in columns questioning Embiid’s professionalism and performance after his Was out of shape to take part in the Olympic Games in Paris.

The NBA fined the Sixers $100,000 last month for public statements, including by Daryl Morey and Nurse, president of basketball operations, that were inconsistent with Embiid’s medical condition and violated league rules, including the player participation policy. violated.

The 76ers have spoken openly since preseason about how they plan to use Embiid this season — managing his minutes and games played as much as possible navigate it safely For the first time in his career, he went into the postseason healthy.

At this disastrous pace, what do they do next if there are no playoffs?

The advantage is that only Cleveland – undefeated entered Monday’s game in Chicago – and Boston has winning records in the Eastern Conference. Start a hot streak with Embiid and the 76ers are back in the thick of the playoff race.

However, only Milwaukee and Toronto in the East have a worse record than the 76ers.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers might still be coaching the Sixers if Embiid had stayed healthy and physically capable of leading the Sixers to deep playoff runs during his three seasons in Philadelphia.

“Joel did nothing wrong,” Rivers said on opening night. “It just happens. You do your best. There are guidelines that every team has. We have the science behind us. Joel is a great person. He moves like a sentinel. There are days when he moves something in training and you say to yourself: That’s not normal for a big guy. His body could say that too. It’s tough because he’s such a great player.”

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