Sixers Offseason Thread Part 5

[FlyingArrow]

Or...

Every game is an injury risk for Joel. We have enough other firepower on the team to make the playoffs with him playing 50 games. If the #1 priority is making the playoffs with a healthy Embiid, then the best way to do that is to play him less. Fewer games played = fewer chances for injury. Game #1 is an easy way to take a day off without drawing too much scrutiny from the league. Once they know he's healthy, days off with draw more ire. I'm sure the Sixers' management can see that strategy, too.

Maybe he's hurt, or maybe it's just as simple as fewer games = lower chance of injury.

[76ciology]

Or...

Every game is an injury risk for Joel. We have enough other firepower on the team to make the playoffs with him playing 50 games. If the #1 priority is making the playoffs with a healthy Embiid, then the best way to do that is to play him less. Fewer games played = fewer chances for injury. Game #1 is an easy way to take a day off without drawing too much scrutiny from the league. Once they know he's healthy, days off with draw more ire. I'm sure the Sixers' management can see that strategy, too.

Maybe he's hurt, or maybe it's just as simple as fewer games = lower chance of injury.

I’d have him play Game 1 when he’s rested and fresh from a really long break, especially against a strong team.

This gives us a clear idea of where improvements are needed which we will tweak along the way.

Later in the season, I’d prefer he skips games against teams like the Hornets, Jazz, or Blazers, even if he has three days of rest.

Playing fewer games reduces risk, but it should be strategic. He should be active for key games against top tier teams like the Bucks, Celtics, Knicks, Nuggets, Thunders, Suns and so forth. Specially when his last game was more than a month ago.

[76ciology]

The league doesn’t like load management because it hurts the regular season. They don’t really care about player health if it affects the game. It’s like a form of “tanking” but for good teams. The NBA will likely force teams to play their stars more. I’ll be watching to see if refs change how they call games if we push load management too far.

[Wilfried]

Those extra 3 seasons on Joel's deal are going to be very ugly I'm afraid.

It's all in on the next 2 seasons, don't mind if he's just ramping up slowly.
But he needs to keep his weight down, his doesn't favor his knee with adding extra pounds. I'm not sure if he's professional enough to do that for more than 1-2 seasons

[mjkvol]

I understand that the Sixers have been, shall we say, less than forthcoming regarding Embiid's health and his availability over the years, but what I don't get is treating Embiid like he's a child and not responsible for his own actions.

The Sixers should have prevented him from playing in the Olympics? How about Embiid himself for once understanding his responsibility to this franchise and fan base and doing the things necessary to become a better and healthier player, especially now as critical as these next 2-3 seasons are in his career and with this team, and after signing an extension?

First and foremost, that would have meant skipping the Olympics and losing 30-35 lbs. while working on things that would help this new group win games, like passing, rebounding, and conditioning. To not be as healthy as he could possibly be right now is a direct slap in the face to the franchise and the fan base, and is the height of selfishness.

Embiid's talk about sacrifice and being available for the playoffs is just odd, as these are things that shouldn't ever need to be said. And why announce to the world that you will be skipping back to backs from here on? Just f****king do it instead of telling the opposition and allowing them to prepare while putting Silver and the league on alert.

I've always supported Embiid and love the fact that he has chosen to play his entire career in Philly, which can't be understated. The Sixers have handed him a lifetime contract and finally built a team around him that has a legit shot to compete - for him to think only of his own gratification with the Olympics and not to have done everything in his power to be as prepared as he could be is incredibly irresponsible to say the least.

[Stanford]

It is looking more and more like Jo had a setback in the Olypmics and they're too scared to say something about it.

[eyeatoma]

It is looking more and more like Jo had a setback in the Olypmics and they're too scared to say something about it.

This is literally what I said weeks ago and you essentially called me crazy lol.

[Sixerscan]

I still don't get why people are jumping to that. He played every game, didn't notice any injury, much less something that would have impacted his ramp up 2 months later. If anything it seemed like he got healthier throughout the tournament. It seems more likely if he got injured (as opposed to them just wanting him to start the season later) it probably happened in the beginning of camp or something like that.

Then again Embiid and the SIxers have been terrible with messaging on this so they sort of deserve people running with whatever they want to.

[Stanford]

It seems more likely if he got injured (as opposed to them just wanting him to start the season later) it probably happened in the beginning of camp or something like that

That's fair and probably more plausible. I'll revise my statement to say that it's looking more likely that he had a setback and they're scared to say anything because he played in the Olympics.

Or, as you said, the plan was to have him start the season later. But if that's the case, they should have said so in the preseason.

[Mik317]

idk it could go both ways knowing this franchise lol

The "PLAN" of taking everything serious makes sense on paper. Don't want to send him out there without getting a few scrimmages in to lather up and don't want to be reactionary and forgo "DA PLAN" just because PG got hurt too. Sticking to your guns and all that.

YET recent history shows that there is some funny business going on so lol.

I don't care about the Olympics tho. If he got hurt there then it is what it is at this point. No amount of not playing will save his glass bones at this rate then lol. I just hope he learned from the experience of being around winners and how to adjust his game in general if nothing else. I think that is not something you should take for granted imo.

Its early in the year and throwing him out there against Giannis' battering ram ass as the first time out probably isn't the best anyway imo.

But regardless of all of the above, this team AND BIID needs to stop with the air of mystery, be it trying to get past Silver or whatever just say yeah he's not ready and even if it is part of da plan...make up an injury and let people know in advance ffs

[FireMorey]

I don't think he had a setback in the olympics. I think 7'2 300 lb guys who have meniscus removed are going to have lingering knee issues. He probably started ramping up and his knee swelled up or got inflamed and they had to dial it back to let it calm down, which delayed him getting ready for the season.

This is why I really didn't want him to get the meniscus trim procedure.

Think about it, since that procedure, we have not seen him look normal on a basketball court once. He was dragging his leg throughout the entire playoffs. He looked slow and sluggish in the olympics. Everyone chalked it up to him "being out of shape" but I think that was copium because the scenario that his knee is some type of a chronic issue is something people don't want to even consider right now.

[LeonJordanJr24]

Get young future centerpiece now like kuminga to groom with maxey while embiid and george play the win now window.

[eyeatoma]

I don't think he had a setback in the olympics. I think 7'2 300 lb guys who have meniscus removed are going to have lingering knee issues. He probably started ramping up and his knee swelled up or got inflamed and they had to dial it back to let it calm down, which delayed him getting ready for the season.

This is why I really didn't want him to get the meniscus trim procedure.

Think about it, since that procedure, we have not seen him look normal on a basketball court once. He was dragging his leg throughout the entire playoffs. He looked slow and sluggish in the olympics. Everyone chalked it up to him "being out of shape" but I think that was copium because the scenario that his knee is some type of a chronic issue is something people don't want to even consider right now.

A repair was only an option if it was torn in a specific way. There is poor blood supply in the meniscus. Not sure we can speculate on whether he went with the more hasty decision so he could play in the playoffs.

[Da Doctor]

[eyeatoma]

Read on Twitter

?t=C4lvviTarRZuNoJeenEjoQ&s=19

Should have said that from day one.

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[76ciology]

The league doesn’t like load management because it hurts the regular season. They don’t really care about player health if it affects the game. It’s like a form of “tanking” but for good teams. The NBA will likely force teams to play their stars more. I’ll be watching to see if refs change how they call games if we push load management too far.

As expected, it should be treated like tanking, there should be a hidden agenda, and it should never be publicly announced.

[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=bJcUtOCSwzTqqyZgysWpbQ[/x]

[mjkvol]

Read on Twitter

This was the easiest call ever. What on earth was Embiid thinking to say something that is so obviously a red flag?

[eyeatoma]

Read on Twitter

This was the easiest call ever. What on earth was Embiid thinking to say something that is so obvious a red flag?

Dude can't get his foot out of his own mouth.

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[strotorious]

Even though I was generally happy with the offseason moves, the one concern I had with it is looking like it could be a serious issue now that we're feeling the effect of the load management plan. Depth at the 4 and 5.

Knowing that they were going to be very cautious with the workloads for both Embiid and George, the powers that be decided that they were fine with a big man bench consisting of a competent veteran, a Euro who hasn't been in the NBA in years, a second round draft pick, and literally nothing else. God help us if either Drummond or Yabusele gets hurt. We'll be playing KJ Martin at the 5.

At least we're rolling 5 deep on undersized point guards.

[Black Mage]

PG13 now out for the weekend too.