Philadelphia sports activities has been on a scorching streak these days, with the Phillies at present within the World Series and solely two video games away from a title; the Eagles are the one undefeated group left within the NFL and play the Texans on Thursday night time (which is known as a bye for the Eagles) and the Union are on their technique to the MLS Finals. Unfortunately, the newest Philly sports activities information is not one thing anybody shall be cheering for.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski studies James Harden, the Philadelphia 76ers’ star level guard, is predicted to overlook a month with a proper foot tendon pressure suffered taking part in the Wizards on Wednesday night time.
Of course, there isn’t any good time for a big damage to one among your star gamers, however this specific damage is compounded by the truth that Joel Embiid has missed three of the final 4 video games with “knee management” and “non-COVID illness”. And everyone knows the East is not the cupcake convention it was once.
The Harden damage might have the 76ers taking part in catchup all yr
The 76ers’ have been already off to a sluggish begin this season, sitting at present at 4-5 and eighth within the Eastern Conference. Typically, data for contending groups usually are not an enormous deal within the East which has been the weaker of the 2 conferences, however that has not been the case the final two years.
Teams just like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, and Toronto Raptors have continued to climb the standings annually. Then you’ve the same old suspects just like the Milwaukee Bucks, the lone undefeated group within the NBA at 7-0 even with out Kris Middleton who has but to play a recreation this season. The Boston Celtics (4-3) have handled their very own points however are nonetheless anticipated to be on the high of the standings by the tip of the yr and the Miami Heat (4-5) have been top-of-the-line groups within the NBA the previous couple of years.
Who can step up for the 76ers
Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers promising younger guard, will assume a lot of the playmaking duties going ahead. On the season, Maxey is averaging 24.2 factors and three.4 assists. The latter quantity might want to enhance if Philly hopes to keep away from falling even additional behind within the standings. Outside of Maxey and Embiid, the much-maligned Tobias Harris must step out of the shadows and show he’s nonetheless price his max contract.
De’Anthony Melton, the combo guard acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies, may also tackle a extra vital position over the subsequent month because the 76ers’ attempt to tread water till Harden is again within the lineup. Fortunately, Melton has been a Swiss Army knife off the bench however he missed his final recreation with again stiffness.
Ultimately, it comes right down to back-to-back MVP runner-up Joel Embiid who’s had a sluggish begin to the season thanks largely to some foot points in the summertime that left him in less-than-optimal recreation form to begin the season. Embiid has believed he ought to have been MVP the final two years, and now he has an opportunity to show that time with out the Beard working level. But the Sixers may also have to be cautious to not overtax their large star earlier than he’s prepared or they danger having each their high gamers in road garments on the identical time. Or worse.