CAMDEN, N.J.–The Philadelphia 76ers are heading into another Eastern Conference semifinals series having to worry about the status of Joel Embiid. Coach Doc Rivers gave an update at practice on Saturday that the big fella is likely going to be doubtful for Game 1 against the Boston Celtics.
During the season, the Sixers went 11-5 in games Embiid missed which is a very good record. They also finished off the Brooklyn Nets in Game 4 without their MVP frontrunner. Those are good reference points for the Sixers to feed off as they prepare for the Celtics.
However, PJ Tucker isn’t buying any of that. Philadelphia just has to go out there and get ready for a battle.
“I mean, we can talk about like taking stuff from games and all, it don’t work like that,” said Tucker. “You just gotta play. We’ll figure out what we’re gonna do against this team and our game plan, and I think it’ll change up from game to game trying to figure out how we’re gonna play. Who’s playing, who’s available, who’s not, but we just got to be ready to play. That’s it.”
This has to be the definition of a “next man up” type of series for the Sixers. They are going to be heavy underdogs without Embiid in this series and they understand that. They will have to rely on just about everybody to take their games to another level to beat this team without the big fella.
“Each and every night,” Tucker added. “Everybody, whoever’s available, ready to go out there, and give it all.”
Game 1 against the Celtics is set for Monday evening at TD Garden.
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