Terrifying Joel Embiid truth 76ers fans don’t want to admit it

The Philadelphia 76ers expect great things from their team this season, but that is of course nothing new. With such a talented lineup, it would be ridiculously unfair not to go full throttle when it comes to living up to those expectations. That said, this team has a habit of finding new ways to disappoint all the fans every year, so who knows what they’ll get this time.

I don’t want to be manic, but people seem to be forgetting one thing: that the success of this team depends on a wildly erratic factor called the “injury bug.” Still in love with the franchise’s colorway, the 76ers somehow managed to outdo themselves last season as their otherwise talented roster finished the year on collective crutches.

Joel Embiid, among others, is the biggest question mark for this team. Forecasts about the superstar’s health have become much more optimistic this time around, but it’s hard not to think this is the result of some placebo-induced thinking. After all, Embiid has only played in 19 games since the Summer Olympics, and the snaps from his training camp have certainly generated a lot of interest in his new, slimmed-down look.

Still, the wisest thing you can say is: hold your horses. This is still Embiid we’re talking about, and the existing precedence over his situation leaves a lot to be desired.

76ers fans should temper their expectations with Joel Embiid this season

If Brian Windhorst and his crew are mentioned hereWhile Embiid’s prospects have improved in terms of his availability, he’s still not out of the red when it comes to his injury situation. Overall, there are still some big risks involved with the 76ers continuing to rely heavily on him.

For example, Embiid’s knee has become sensitive to swelling on an almost aleatory basis. It is similar to Russian Roulette in terms of its playing status from game to game. There may be cases – several cases – where his knee can betray him and he misses a number of pieces in one season.

That makes it all the more important for the coaching staff to view Embiid with extreme caution. That doesn’t mean shutting him out as much as possible, but rather tempering his role and perhaps streamlining it on both ends, even when he’s “healthy.”

The 76ers are going for the stars this season and need Joel Embiid to be at his best when the games really matter. Hopefully this time he finally breaks through on that point.