Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are in an interesting spot right now. They’re not fully healthy at the moment and their recent skid (which all but eliminated their hot start to the season) reflects that without Joel Embiid, they’re a bad team. Ben Simmons’ absence helps magnify that.
It’s difficult to gauge this team. When Embiid is healthy, they’ve shown they can compete – and beat – some of the best teams in the league. Assuming that Simmons is not returning to the team, I believe that the Sixers, sooner or later, are going to feel the loss.
One stat to keep in mind: the Sixers are 4-6 so far this season against “projected” playoff teams. In a few of those games, the Sixers were without Embiid. Still, that’s not a good indication of the team’s start.
In a vacuum, the Sixers are a legit contender. Relying on perfect health from Embiid or Simmons returning feels like a flawed master plan.
Verdict: Tofurky