The initial game featured a blend of contrasting outcomes for the Philadelphia 76ers. Joel Embiid struggled significantly. He concluded the contest with a mere four points from nine attempts, notably against a Celtics group that had lost a substantial portion of its frontline personnel due to injuries, free agency, or trades during the offseason. Philadelphia secured the victory primarily due to the outstanding performances of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, who combined for an impressive 74 points. It felt like witnessing a transition of power within the franchise unfold in real-time, reminiscent of Wally Pipp being replaced by Lou Gehrig over the course of 48 minutes. The 2023 MVP seemed like a figure of the past, while the 24-year-old All-Star and the No. 3 overall pick represented the future.
This assessment likely still holds true, yet Philadelphia supporters can find reassurance in the fact that Wednesday’s showing from Embiid appears to be an exception, as evidenced by a notably improved performance on Saturday. He tallied 20 points in 20 minutes, seemingly adhering to his current on-court limitations designed to safeguard his physical well-being. Although he exhibits slightly less agility compared to previous seasons, he demonstrated somewhat greater ease of movement than he did against the Celtics during Saturday’s triumph over the Charlotte Hornets, even managing a couple of steals.
Was this the same player who garnered the MVP award three years prior? Not quite, but he functioned as a reasonably productive player, perhaps unable to remain on the court long enough to dictate the outcome during critical moments, but capable of contributing sufficiently in the earlier stages to maintain a close score, allowing his teammates to finalize the job. This scenario has not consistently been the case throughout Embiid’s career, as he has experienced limited playing time over the past two years. If Philadelphia fails to exercise caution, this pattern could persist for the remainder of his career.
Essentially, Saturday provided a preliminary indication of what might become the new standard in Philadelphia, where a carefully monitored Embiid is preserved adequately to exert some influence rather than being sidelined entirely. His minute restrictions will likely ease gradually, but within reasonable bounds. He speculated that he may never participate in consecutive games again. Some participation from Embiid is preferable to none at all.
The 76ers had previously lacked the resources to accommodate a part-time Embiid. Challenges will undoubtedly persist in certain areas, notably on the defensive end. Nevertheless, the 76ers have never possessed this level of shot-creation capability, which at least presents a viable path to constructing a functional offense even when Embiid is off the court.
Maxey once again spearheaded the attack with 28 points on Saturday, closely followed by Quentin Grimes with 24. He has become somewhat overlooked in Philadelphia, even accepting a one-year qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason after the 76ers opted not to present a competitive long-term contract, but this is a player who averaged nearly 27 points per game last March. His performance was so impactful that he earned the ultimate distinction for a struggling team: he was benched during crucial stretches because he contributed to winning too many games. Grimes would likely assume a 3-and-D role on a 76ers team featuring a healthier Embiid commanding his customary share of possessions. On this current team, he has the potential to approach his post-trade deadline usage from the previous season.
Jared McCain, who likely would have dominated the Rookie of the Year competition had he remained healthy last season, has yet to make an appearance. Neither has Paul George. Remember Paul George? The podcaster who has participated in nine All-Star Games? Similar to Embiid, he may be unable to replicate his peak workload. However, given the abundance of shot-creation resources Philadelphia has accumulated in its backcourt, having him available as a complementary shooter feels like a luxury.
There is likely a limit to what this team can achieve without significant defensive reinforcements or exceptional progress from the younger players, but they operate within the Eastern Conference and possess the ability to score effectively. This should be sufficient to maintain reasonable competitiveness as they strive to determine their next course of action. As far as short-term solutions are concerned, they could be in a much worse position. Regarding long-term strategies, it remains unclear whether The Process has officially concluded, so it is prudent to focus on the immediate future. In the short term, the 76ers remain undefeated with a partially available Embiid. If this is the only version of him they will have access to, they are at least beginning to discover how to secure victories despite his limitations, rather than forfeiting entire seasons due to them.
