NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith believes it's smart for the Philadelphia 76ers to sit Joel Embiid for Game 2.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is out for Game 2 against the New York Knicks due to ankle and hip injuries, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
This will make emerging victorious on Wednesday significantly harder for Philadelphia, as Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns is likely to exploit the matchups against the 76ers' backups.
Despite this, NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith feels the 76ers are making a "wise" move by ruling Embiid out for this contest.
"I actually think that's a smart decision based on how immobile he was in Game 1," Smith said. "Let him sit out even if they're down 2-0, which is probably going to happen anyway. At least he'll be better ready for Game 3 and 4 in Philadelphia. I actually have no problem with this move by the Philadelphia 76ers; I think it's a wise one, assuming he's going to be ready for Game 3 and 4."
Embiid had a rough showing in Game 1, as he finished with just 14 points and four rebounds on 3 of 11 shooting in 25 minutes of action. As Smith mentioned, Embiid did look a bit sluggish in the first game of the series, but it's important to note the 76ers were just 48 hours removed from a win-or-go-home matchup with the Boston Celtics.
The seven-time All-Star being sidelined will drastically change how Game 2 is approached for both teams.
For Philadelphia, the game plan will run through All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who assumed this role for the majority of the regular season. He's more than capable of taking control of the game but cannot fall into the trap of playing superhero on the offensive end.
The Knicks should take full advantage of Embiid's absence by feeding the ball to Towns as often as possible. He should be able to dominate against Andre Drummond and Adem Bona.
The 76ers overcame unlikely circumstances against the Celtics in Round 1, and it's looking likely they'll have to do the same versus the Knicks.
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