Joel Embiid jogged onto the Wells Fargo Center court Wednesday night, a sight Sixers fans hadn't seen since March 29th. The big man was back, 13 games after suffering a right oblique strain against the Nuggets. He finished with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists in 23 minutes, looking a little rusty but still dominant in the 106-94 win over the Bulls. It was a good start.
The Sixers desperately needed him. They went 6-7 in his absence, a period that saw them drop from the East's top seed to fighting for home-court advantage in the first round. Tobias Harris, bless his heart, tried to carry the load, averaging 22.5 points and 7.1 rebounds during that stretch. Tyrese Maxey showed flashes, dropping 33 points against the Raptors on April 14th. But without Embiid, the Sixers are just a collection of good players. With him, they're contenders.
Real talk: Embiid changes everything. Before his injury, the Sixers were 39-17, a legitimate threat to win the Eastern Conference. He was averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, putting together an MVP-caliber season. His offensive rating was 120.3, a career-high. The team’s net rating with him on the floor was +11.2, compared to -2.7 when he sat. Those aren't just numbers; those are the keys to a championship.
His return against Chicago wasn't flawless. Embiid shot 7-for-17 from the field, missing a few bunnies he usually converts. He looked a step slow on defense at times, though his sheer presence still deterred Nikola Vucevic, who shot 6-for-16. Thing is, it's going to take time. An oblique strain isn't a sprained ankle. It affects core strength, shooting motion, and overall explosiveness. Doc Rivers will have to manage his minutes carefully over the next few weeks, especially with a back-to-back coming up.
The Sixers sit at 45-24 with seven games left. They're battling the Celtics (46-23) and Cavaliers (46-27) for the 2-seed. Every game matters. Getting Embiid back into game shape and re-integrating him into the offense is the top priority. James Harden, who had 15 assists against the Bulls, benefits immensely from Embiid's presence, as do the shooters like De'Anthony Melton. The team's offensive flow just clicks better.
Here's the thing: I think the Sixers are a year away. Embiid is phenomenal, a generational talent. But this team, even with Harden, still lacks the consistent secondary scoring and defensive grit to get past Milwaukee or Boston in a seven-game series. They’ll make it out of the first round, probably even the second. But the conference finals will be their ceiling this year.
The Sixers will secure the 3-seed in the East, just shy of home-court advantage in the second round.