Wednesday was speculated to characterize a contemporary begin for the Philadelphia 76ers. After beginning 2-11 due largely to a wide range of accidents, they’d lastly have their three superstars on the ground on the similar time. Tyrese Maxey returned from a hamstring harm to affix Joel Embiid, who has performed in solely 4 video games, and Paul George, who has appeared in eight. All three took their place in Philadelphia’s beginning lineup for the primary time this season towards the Memphis Grizzlies.
As an alternative, the nightmare continued. Early within the second half of a shedding effort, George suffered yet one more harm that knocked him out for the sport. He collided with Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane as he fought for a rebound and instantly got here up limping. The 76ers finally dominated him out for the sport with a hyperextended left knee. Notably, that’s the similar knee he hyperextended within the preseason, inflicting a bone bruise that saved him out of Philadelphia’s first six video games.
With 14 video games now within the books, Philadelphia has gotten a mixed six whole minutes with its three greatest gamers on the ground. If George must miss time due to this harm, it may very well be a superb deal longer earlier than that quantity grows, and it is not as if Maxey or Embiid have reached 100% but both. Maxey performed solely 20 minutes within the defeat, capturing 3-of-13 from the ground and 0-of-6 from the 3-point vary. Embiid scored 35 factors, by far his highest whole of the season, however he additionally appeared to be in ache late within the fourth quarter when he collided with Jaren Jackson Jr. He completed the sport, however was seen limping and holding his knee after the play.
With Wednesday’s 117-111 loss to Memphis, Philadelphia has now fallen to 2-12. The two-11 Washington Wizards had the evening off, so Philadelphia now has sole possession of the NBA’s worst file. The schedule over the subsequent few weeks is extraordinarily forgiving. Solely three of their subsequent 9 video games are on the street, and solely three of their opponents in that span are presently top-six seeds of their convention. That features two video games towards the Orlando Magic, nonetheless lacking Paolo Banchero, whereas the third is the second evening of a street back-to-back for the Rockets. On paper, that is the second wherein they completely want to begin stacking wins.
If George misses time and so they cannot try this, their season is likely to be over by Christmas. With every passing loss, the chances already work towards them. Solely six groups have ever completed .500 after a 2-10 begin. The Pelicans made the 2022 postseason after a 3-16 begin, however wanted a serious in-season commerce for CJ McCollum and the Play-In Event to get there. The Japanese Convention is forgiving. Final 12 months’s No. 10 seed received solely 36 video games. However Philadelphia must go .500 the remainder of the way in which simply to get to that whole.
With a principally wholesome George and no additional accidents, that is completely cheap. However Embiid does not precisely have a clear monitor file. George is 34 and has handled loads of different accidents as effectively. The depth right here is proscribed. That is the worth you pay for accumulating three max-contract superstars within the second apron period. That is DEFCON 1 for the 76ers now. If they do not get wholesome and begin profitable video games quickly, their season will finish earlier than it actually begins.
