Joel Embiid is one of the best big men in the league today, and some view him as the most dominant player in the league. He is a legitimate three-level scorer as a big man, and he is also an elite rim protector.
Having a healthy Joel Embiid is key for the Philadelphia 76ers’ championship hopes. However, he has recently been ruled out indefinitely with an “orbital fracture and mild concussion”.
Sources: 76ers All-NBA star Joel Embiid suffered a right orbital fracture and mild concussion in series-clinching Game 6 win last night in Toronto. He will be listed as out and there is no timetable for his return.
Embiid has been playing through pain this postseason after sustaining a torn ligament in his right thumb — and now this orbital fracture, concussion, and will now be sidelined.
The play where Embiid got injured occurred during the last minutes of a blowout against the Toronto Raptors in Game 6. Some have blamed coach Doc Rivers for keeping Joel Embiid out on the floor, despite his team looking as though they had the win in the bag. Doc Rivers has recently come out and defended his decision, pointing out that the Toronto Raptors’ starters were still in the game.
Doc Rivers defends his decision to have Joel Embiid in late during a blowout
“The other team had all their guys in”
(🎥 @TomMoorePhilly ) pic.twitter.com/Y2Cluo0eeJ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 30, 2022
The other team had all their guys in too. The last 5 minutes of the game, we made the run the last minute… After Joel made the shot, and did the airplane. If you watch the game, I turn and said “I’m calling a timeout next possession”.
There is no question that Doc Rivers is not at fault in this situation. Oftentimes coaches match their team’s starters’ minutes to the other team’s starters’ minutes. He simply couldn’t have predicted that Joel Embiid would be injured due to a freak accident.
Hopefully, Joel Embiid gets better sooner rather than later. The 76ers definitely need him healthy to make the Finals, and there’s no doubt that he is what makes that team as good as it was during the regular season.
