The Philadelphia 76ers stand no chance in the NBA playoffs if superstar big man Joel Embiid is not on the floor.
The bad news for the Sixers is Embiid's greatest obstacle is health. He regularly misses time in both the regular and postseason but dominates during his less than ideal amount of action. He averaged a career-high 34.7 points on 52.9% shooting in just 39 games last season.
Even when he appears in the playoffs, it's typically not at full strength, making the goal set by ESPN's Tim Legler next to impossible.
"When you look at Embiid in his career and the number of injuries that have derailed his postseasons, you can say the way guys have played alongside him as those co-stars," Legler said on NBA Today. "Number one, he has Tyrese Maxey, a guy that most believe is unfazed by the moment—the real deal. Now you go out and add Paul George. The talent is not a question, the talent is in place."
The addition of George should alleviate pressure from the 76ers center, especially in the regular season. Embiid will not feel the pressure to play on a nightly basis if George can fill the role of No. 1 scoring option.
"You have to be as good for a two-month stretch as you've been in the regular season, year after year. He has yet to do that," Legler said. "[Embiid needs] to deliver in the postseason, be out there every night, be consistent, and be 100%. He has not done that yet for this franchise."
Legler's expectation for Embiid is logical considering he's in the midst of his prime, but expecting his injuries to vanish is unrealistic.
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