Joel Embiid made a joke about needing money to get his teammates ready for the NBA Cup, but the real story is how much he is playing. The star center cracked a smile about his bank account after the 76ers beat the New York Knicks 98-93 on Friday night, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Heavy Load on Embiid
Embiid played nearly 39 minutes against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, which breaks the team’s own health plan for him. Nick Nurse admitted after that game that the playing time was “maybe a few too high,” per Yahoo Sports. The coach said you sometimes have to do what is necessary to win, but this approach ignores the long-term damage. Embiid’s 35.8 minutes per game over the first four contests is the highest average Nurse has ever seen.
This number is even higher than the early samples from the Doc Rivers era. The team needed 19 games before Embiid made his seventh appearance, finally playing more than 30 minutes on November 30 last year.
Why the Joke Misses the Point
Embiid’s comment about going broke was a funny way to say he wants the team to care about the tournament. Every extra minute is risky given his history of knee issues and the fact that he is 32 years old. Ariel Hukporti is out for the entire year for the 76ers, while Tacko Fall and Dominick Barlow have also logged costly absences over the first few games. Without reliable depth at the center position, the team constantly finds itself having to dig deep right now.
The regular season focuses on building good habits for April and beyond rather than just winning games in October. Fans might find Embiid’s financial recovery plan becoming a running joke if Philadelphia delivers the effort and execution required to advance.
The Real Cost of Winning Now
The Associated Press reports that LeBron James secured the victory over the Knicks by scoring 20 points and hitting a go-ahead fadeaway late in the game. Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 27 points while Embiid contributed 10 points and seven assists in the victory. The Sixers have begun the season with a 5-1 record, even though their regular starting five has played together only three times. For the first time this season, Jaylen Brown missed a game due to left knee soreness, leaving Maxey as the only player to start every game.
Even if it results in an October loss, the team must adhere to the minutes plan to preserve Embiid for the future. Although the franchise requires him to stay healthy, the victory achieved on Wednesday may come at a cost that is too high in the long run. If the 76ers keep pushing his playing time limits now, they risk losing their best player when it matters most.
