PHILADELPHIA — You get what you pay for, and from the beginning, the Sixers realized it was going to be a challenge to keep the incredibly skilled Joel Embiid healthy.
The big guy had foot surgeries in what would have been his first two NBA seasons. In what was technically Embiid’s rookie season, he had season ending surgery on his left meniscus after playing 31 games, the first of what will be three surgeries for meniscus tears.
This season wasn’t following the old script for Embiid, who despite the massive medical file appeared to be turning the corner. The 7-0, 280-pound center was on track for back-to-back, healthy MVP seasons. He was leading the league with a 35.3-point scoring average and putting up numbers that would have made the late Wilt Chamberlain smile, including a 70-point effort against the Spurs on Jan. 22.
However, the left knee requires what the Sixers call “corrective” surgery that jeopardizes not only the rest of this season, but the future of Embiid. The Sixers’ medical team will begin sorting it out after cutting into the knee Tuesday. Don’t count on a lot of clarity beyond day-to-day.
“I feel really bad for him,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said Monday. “He’s having an historic season and I thought just everything he’s done, from practicing hard to prepping hard he was just doing at a super high level. I feel bad for him.
“How’s he doing? I think he’s probably a little bit up and down to be honest with you. But I get some pretty positive vibes from him. There’s some tough moments to go through, and you’re thinking about what could be, and what’s going to happen, the road to recovery and all that kind of stuff. You’ve got to take a positive spin on it. Anybody in life with an illness or injury or sickness has to be able to say I’m going to bounce back and be ready.”
Estimates of the recovery time for damage to the meniscus flap could put Embiid out for at least the rest of the regular season, with 33 games left after Monday’s visit from Dallas. This is the untimeliest of Embiid’s five surgeries, with no dominant teams standing between the Sixers and an NBA title. The Sixers weren’t favored to win the championship this season, but the core is solid and general manager Daryl Morey has enough draft picks and expiring contracts to make a move that would give the team a chance. With a reasonably healthy Embiid, that is.
If the Sixers make a significant deal before the trade deadline Thursday, it doesn’t necessarily mean Embiid will be fully functional for the playoffs. It may be needed to stabilize a team that is 4-10 without him and add a piece to take advantage of Embiid’s unique skills.
Embiid turns 30 next month. He is in his eighth season. The work he’s put in to last an entire season has helped him put up eye-popping numbers in a league where, OK, defense doesn’t show up until the postseason.
But maybe, just maybe when Embiid gets through this injury, it’s time to steal a page from the game plan of one of the great big men in league history, the now retired Tim Duncan. Embiid had considerable knee soreness before falling over Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga to suffer his most recent injury. Reducing wear and tear might work the way it did for Duncan.
The San Antonio Spurs icon is listed at 6-11, 250 pounds. After the 2010-11 season, at age 35, he painstakingly worked on improving his body through a specific diet. Duncan lost more than 25 pounds, played in almost every game and led the Spurs to the conference finals.
The following season, the Spurs were in the NBA finals. The year after that, Duncan averaged 16 points and nine rebounds in the 2013-14 playoffs to lift the Spurs to the NBA championship at 37 years old.
Duncan played two more seasons. Teammate Bruce Bowen chalked up the dedicated diet to, “wheat bread and chicken only, no mayonnaise, no mustard, none of that.”
Does anybody see Embiid playing 19 seasons like Duncan, who walked away at age 39? At the rate the injuries and rehabs are coming, Embiid might not want to stick around that long. Considering the bumps and surgeries, it’s surprising he’s made it this far.
Duncan played no fewer than 61 games in any of his final four seasons with the Spurs, having taken advantage of his new diet and fitness program. The weight loss essentially began at age 36. There is still time for Embiid, although obviously not this season.
To contact Bob Grotz, email rgrotz@delcotimes.com or follow him on Twitter @bobgrotz.
Source: Berkshire mont
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