The Philadelphia 76ers appeared to have dodged a bullet with one of their All-Star leaders. While Ben Simmons will probably be out for a little while, they have given an update on their superstar big man that looks a little more promising.
With the update on Joel Embiid being that he has no structural damage and he will be re-evaluated in just a week, the team can breathe a bit of a sigh of relief. It does not change the fact that they will have to head out on the road and try and win without both of their leaders, but it is promising.
“The fact that there is no structural damage, we all hear loudly,” said coach Brett Brown after a 115-106 win over the New York Knicks. “It’s as much from the personal standpoint as it is a selfish coach that he’s looking forward to this run home. The responsibility, no Ben for how long we’ll all figure out in time, and to learn that from his perspective and from the team’s perspective, that is exciting news.”
The big news here is that there is no structural damage. He will be able to progress on a day-by-day basis and he could return toward the end of their west coast road trip. The more probable return is March 11 against the Detroit Pistons when they return home, but the possibility is still there.
The Sixers were able to overcome the loss of Embiid by outrebounding the Knicks 44-39 on the night and they will need more of the same as they begin a 4-game trip on Sunday starting with the Los Angeles Clippers. [lawrence-related id=26638,26626,26616]