Joel Embiid has finally returned to the Philadelphia 76ers starting lineup after a devastating spell of recurring injuries that hampered his ability to play for the franchise. Despite the star center admitting he’s happy to be back on the court, there are notable differences from previous campaigns where the Sixers suffered greatly without Embiid on the court.
Could there be a changing of the guard in Philadelphia?
For as long as 76ers fans can remember, non-Embiid minutes have been a time of pain and suffering, where endless leads vanished and any semblance of momentum fizzled out, like the Titanic. Nevertheless, the franchise’s young core proved in Philadelphia’s first two games of the season that this weakness could be a thing of the past.
Philadelphia’s talented backcourt is thriving
Through the 76ers’ two regular season games thus far, with Embiid on the floor, the team has registered a point differential of -16 and -2, respectively. Of course, the 2023 Most Valuable Player is still in the process of regaining his match fitness and shouldn’t be judged too heavily based on these stats, but it does highlight the Sixers’ impressive backcourt rotation.
Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes have proven to be one of the deadliest guard rotations in the Eastern Conference and perhaps the entire NBA to date. Each player possesses a dangerous scoring ability while contributing to other vital areas of the game plan.
After his stunning debut in Philadelphia – with 34 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal – Edgecombe showed his versatility in the 76ers’ latest 121-125 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. The rookie star shifted his talents to playmaking as he dished out eight assists to his teammates to help the Sixers continue their perfect start to the season.
Furthermore, Maxey thrives in a leadership role, while Embiid focuses on raising his level of performance. Maxey is averaging a whopping 34 points and 7.5 assists through two games, scoring 40 points in Philadelphia’s nail-biting 117-116 win over the Boston Celtics.
A question mark loomed over Grimes and his ability to replicate his stunning 2024-2025 form for the 76ers as he played a less prominent role in the rotation. The Sixers’ win over the Hornets showed that this shouldn’t be an issue for the franchise. Grimes scored 24 points and made a three-point attempt in the final stages of the game to propel his teammates to their second victory of the year.
One thing is certain: Joel Embiid should not be criticized under any circumstances as his teammates are currently performing at a higher level when he is not on the floor. However, it does point to the growing influence that Philadelphia’s young core can have in his absence, and we could now be looking at a 76ers roster that won’t rely heavily on Embiid to claim a spot in the postseason.
#Obvious #Embiid #reality #76ers #fans #refuse #admit