Daryl Morey said it loud and clear during his season-ending press conference last season: The Philadelphia 76ers were going to run it back in the next season and expected his stars to be healthy and ready to compete. His confidence stemmed from the fact that the 76ers, with a healthy Joel Embiid, could implement a plan that would lead to winning basketball. Well, with the 2025-26 regular season about to start less than a week from now, the 76ers have another plan. Or, more so, a similar plan to last year, which didn’t exactly work out. A promising sign, in contrast to last year, is that Embiid is reportedly healthy and ready to start the season. At the start of last season, this was something he was unable to do.
76ers’ Plan for Joel Embiid Shouldn’t Induce Too Much Optimism
Philadelphia 76ers revert to last years Joel Embiid playing time plan hoping for different results
There’s no denying that Embiid’s NBA journey has been more tragic than fortunate. When fully healthy, Embiid is the best big man in the league. Of course, depending on where your allegiance lies, that may be Nikola Jokić. When healthy, he’s not just a threat in the paint, but for a 7’0″ big man who weighs almost 280 lbs, he can move around in space and knock down mid-range and three-point shots with ease. He’s multi-gifted offensively, which makes him such a threat from anywhere on the court.
That is the version the Sixers must have in Embiid if they’re ever going to truly contend in the playoffs. The Sixers are likely sitting on the edge of their seats, fists clenched, hoping that is the version of Embiid they get this year. Starting the season healthy is a positive step in that direction, but everything that comes after is what will matter more importantly. According to NBA insider Charles Haynes, the 76ers have a plan in place similar to last season that will hopefully keep Embiid in the best shape and condition possible.
Like last year’s plan, the 76ers do not intend to play Embiid in back-to-back games. They followed this blueprint last year. However, the season still crashed and burned when they shut Embiid down at the back end of the campaign. Haynes reports that even while healthy and ready to go, Embiid will sit for at least one of the games on consecutive nights. Philly is scheduled to play in 16 back-to-backs this season. The maximum number of games Embiid could play in is 66.
Embiid is ready to go, Paul George is not
With the good news regarding Embiid, there is less favourable news regarding the 76ers’ other star, Paul George. The nine-time All-Star is expected to miss the 76ers’ opening night when they travel to Boston to face the Celtics. George, like Embiid, also suffered through injuries last year, and he, too, was shut down before the season ended.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, George is, however, making positive progress with his knee rehabilitation. It is expected he will rejoin the team shortly after the regular season begins. It’s hard to imagine Embiid carrying the 76ers, even if he is healthy. He’s older, and his body is older than his age. This makes George’s availability all the more crucial to the Sixers’ chances this season.
Given the landscape in the Eastern Conference, with major stars not available to their teams, the doors are more open than ever for the Sixers. That said, none of that matters if they spend the season battered, bruised, and star body-less. In other words, it’s best not to get too hyped just yet; recent history suggests as much.
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