After a much-needed week off, the Philadelphia 76ers were hoping this would be the moment to turn their season around. While they had fallen short of expectations in the first half of the NBA season, the relatively weak Eastern Conference still left the door open for a playoff push.
However, their first game after the All-Star break could hardly have gone worse. Facing a tough opponent in the Boston Celtics, the Sixers trailed by 16 at halftime and were down by 26 at the end of the third quarter. Losing is one thing—showing little fight or competitive spirit at home is another.
Philadelphia’s trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George struggled once again, with none of them surpassing 20 points. Embiid, in particular, had a rough outing, scoring just 15 points with three rebounds in 27 minutes. He shot 3-for-9 from the field, with nine of his points coming from the free-throw line.
When asked whether his knee was limiting him, Embiid’s response was concerning:
“The way I was playing a year ago is not the way I’m playing now. It sucks. But I believe … I probably need to fix the problem, and then I’ll be back at that level. But it’s hard to have trust when you’re not yourself.”
This wasn’t just Embiid acknowledging he’s playing through an injury—it was him admitting that the issue likely needs to be addressed before he can return to MVP form. The 76ers need to take this seriously and act accordingly.
Should the Sixers Shut Embiid Down for the Season?
Philadelphia is in a difficult position. Benching a player of Embiid’s caliber is never ideal, especially when he likely wants to fight for a playoff spot. But realistically, the Sixers aren’t contending for anything meaningful this season.
With a 20-35 record, they currently sit at 11th in the Eastern Conference, outside both the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament. While they’re just 1.5 games behind the Chicago Bulls for the 10th seed, even if they manage to sneak into the postseason, what’s the best-case scenario? A quick exit in the first round against the Boston Celtics or Cleveland Cavaliers?
There are two major factors to consider:
- Embiid’s Long-Term Health: He is the franchise cornerstone and their most valuable asset. Forcing him to play at less than full strength could risk further injury. The team should prioritize getting him healthy for next season when they can make a fresh push.
- Draft Position: The Sixers’ 2025 first-round pick is only top-six protected. If their pick falls outside the top six, it will be sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Benching Embiid—who remains vastly better than the rest of the roster even at 50%—would increase their chances of keeping the pick by improving their lottery odds.
No one wants it to come to this, but given the circumstances, shutting Embiid down for the rest of the season seems like the smartest move. It would give him time to recover while allowing the team to make the best of an otherwise disappointing year.