After a performance where he shot only 3-of-9 from the field during Thursday’s loss to Boston, Joel Embiid expressed to reporters the need to “fix the problem” with his left knee before he can return to his dominant self, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
The Sixers endured another tough moment in what has been a challenging season, suffering a 20-point defeat to their longtime rivals, extending their losing streak to six games. Embiid scored just 15 points in 27 minutes, with Bontemps noting that his nine shot attempts were a season low in a game where he was neither injured nor ejected.
“The way I was playing a year ago is not the way I’m playing right now,” Embiid stated. “It sucks. … 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.”
There was some hope that the week-long All-Star break would enable Embiid to recover from ongoing physical issues that have limited him to only 18 games this season. He has yet to fully heal from the lateral meniscus injury he suffered last year, with a report earlier this month indicating he could require surgery once the season ends.
When Embiid has played, he has not reached the MVP-caliber performance seen in previous seasons. Currently, he is averaging 24.3 points per game, which is over 10 points fewer than his average from last season. His numbers for rebounds (8.2) and assists (4.4) have also seen notable declines, with his shooting percentages slipping to 45% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range.
Any discussions regarding the possibility of resting Embiid must be balanced against the team’s playoff ambitions. While they currently hold one of the league’s six worst records, they sit just a game and a half back of Chicago for the 10th seed and a spot in the play-in tournament. There remains a slim chance for a playoff berth, and a healthier roster could provide a formidable challenge in a first-round matchup.
In the meantime, the focus will be on helping Embiid manage his knee issues to keep him on the court as much as possible.
Embiid acknowledged that the break helped him “a little bit,” although he still doesn’t feel entirely like himself. Nevertheless, he remains confident in his ability to aid the team, even if he’s not at his full potential.
Image Source: Joel Embiid @ Instagram
