The Philadelphia 76ers have a major problem that could cost them a championship this season.
With less than 25 games to go in the NBA regular season, the Philadelphia 76ers are the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 33-27.
The 76ers are, however, better than their record suggests because Joel Embiid and Paul George have missed a significant number of games this season. If both veteran stars are healthy, Philadelphia can put up a good fight against the best the East has to offer.
The problem is the Sixers' most glaring issue continues to be the health of Embiid, who is set to miss at least the next two games due to an oblique injury. Bleacher Report named Embiid's health as the reason people shouldn't expect the 76ers to win the championship this season.
"Joel Embiid isn't the Philadelphia 76ers' most important player, but they still can't afford to lose him for any portion of the postseason," B/R's Grant Hughes wrote. "Tyrese Maxey's All-NBA-caliber rise means the Sixers will be dangerous as long as he's on the floor. Dangerous is a long way from being the same thing as "championship-worthy.""
Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. © Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesThe sad reality is Embiid's never been at full strength for the postseason. He has put up strong numbers in several series over the course of his career but has never done so healthily.
It's clear the seven-time All-Star is looking to change that this year, as his trainer Drew Hanlen revealed he's taking a different approach to his injuries.
"He's [Embiid] bought into something this year that he's never done in the past. In the past, if he was 50%, he was still playing," Hanlen said on The Kevin O'Connor Show. "He was a warrior, he was a competitor. He was like, 'If I can play physically, I'm going to play.' So then he arrived to the playoffs banged up. This year, he's taken more of the approach of 'If I'm not healthy, I'm not playing.'"
Time will tell if this new strategy pays off for the MVP center.
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Anthony Pasciolla is the publisher of 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached via email at ampasciolla@gmail.com or followed on X @AnthonyPasci.