Returning to the playoffs, the key for the 76ers is Embiid or health

To return to the playoffs, the key for the 76ers is Embiid's health

In the 2017 draft, the 76ers traded this piece with the Celtics with the third overall pick. With the No. 1 pick, future star Fultz was selected. This has pushed their young core lineup to another level.

In addition to Fultz, the 76ers also have two young stars, Ben Simmons and Embiid. This year, the 76ers also found J.J. Redick and Arthur in the free market. Mill Johnson, the 76ers' slogan of "Always Believe" is no longer a blank check, and the general manager's operation seems to finally be fulfilled next season.

However, health is still the most worrying issue for the 76ers during this process.

Last year’s No. 1 pick, Ben Simmons, had surgery on his right ankle in October and did not play a single game throughout the regular season. However, the situation of Ben Simmons does not seem to be as worrying compared to Embiid, who was killing everyone on the court last year. Embiid didn't stand on the court until the third season after being drafted, and even then, he only played 31 games for the 76ers this season.

If he can stay healthy, he can average 20 points, 8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in only 25 minutes per game. This is definitely the performance of a future MVP candidate. But even if the 76ers strictly control Embiid's playing time, after playing 786 minutes last season, Embiid was exempted from the game again due to left knee meniscus surgery.

Now the 76ers have the potential of Ben Simmons and Fultz, two superstars, and Embiid to take the team from the lottery to the playoffs. In a few years, it is definitely not a dream for the 76ers to become a regular in the playoffs or a championship team. If Embiid stays healthy next season, he will definitely not be just a super rookie but an All-Star player with increased playing time.

MVP-level on-court performance, no player could perform as efficiently as Embiid last season. With him playing, the 76ers had a respectable 13-18 record, outscoring their opponents by 3.2 points per 100 possessions. This kind of performance is probably a little better than the Celtics, who are first in the Eastern Conference, and a little worse than the Spurs, who were among the top defensive teams in the league last year. This is the terrifying impact Embiid has when he defends the paint on the court. With Embiid, opponents shot only 40.8 in the penalty area, which is 3 percentage points lower than last year's Defensive Player of the Year finalist Gobert.

From the perspective of advanced offensive statistics, although Embiid scored 28.7 points every 36 minutes, his performance was not good enough. Last season, they continued to let Embiid hold the ball to make up for his gaps in the first two seasons, allowing him to quickly absorb experience on the court. He can have a high efficiency value, but it also results in a high average of 3.8 turnovers per game.

If his playing time increases next season, Embiid’s high turnover last year should not increase linearly, because after all, after Ben Simmons and Fultz join next season, Embiid will There will no longer be too many opportunities to hold the ball. He distributes the ball rights to these two young brothers to allow them to make mistakes and grow. On the defensive level, he also has to work with Covington to make up for the two newcomers. Defensive mistakes are inevitable during the adjustment period when you first enter the NBA.

The 76ers' playoff dream. After many Eastern Conference star players moved west this summer, the threshold for the 76ers to get playoff tickets this season seems to have been lowered a lot. Excluding the Cavaliers and Kyle After the Specials, Wizards, and Raptors, it’s hard to say who can get the remaining playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.

All the Hawks' starting five from 2014-2015 left. The departure of Jimmy Butler and Paul George caused the Bulls and Pacers to enter reconstruction. The Magic and Nets currently seem to have little hope of entering the playoffs. The Knicks also have to deal with Anthony's problem.

The Heat played an amazing game in the second half of last year and almost made the playoffs. The Hornets have Howard joining, the Pistons have roughly maintained their original team, and the Celtics have lost Bradley, who performed well.

After the Bucks finally tasted the playoffs last year, they will have healthy Middleton and Jabari Parker back next season.

Obviously, the 5th to 8th place in the Eastern Conference is not very clear at the moment. If Embiid can stay healthy for a full 82 games, then the 76ers are likely to return to the playoffs again. race chart. In his first season in the NBA, he always changed the entire game. Before getting injured again last year, he almost brought the team's winning percentage to 50%.

For newcomers, there is always explosive growth in the second season after entering the NBA. Embiid's numbers are expected to improve even more, especially with so many good players joining the 76ers. J.J. Redick's excellent perimeter will open up space for Embiid, making him less vulnerable to double teams and greatly reducing his mistakes.

Veteran Amir Johnson will stabilize the morale in the locker room and provide experience on the court. Teammates such as Dario Saric, Justin Anderson, T.J. McConnell and Timothy are still in the advanced stages of their careers. Backup center Richaun Holmes feels more and more improved.

The 76ers' roster already has the potential to return to the playoffs next season. Now it all depends on whether Embiid can stay healthy next season and play a more dominant performance. The 76ers definitely have a good chance of finishing eighth, and as No. 1 pick Fultz, Ben Simmons and Embiid slowly work together, they have a better chance of moving toward the title contender.