The Philadelphia 76ers' roster continues to thin out as yet another player has entered health and safety protocols. Originally out due to rest, reports emerged late Monday that Sixers All-Star Joel Embiid will be out at least 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19. He joined teammates Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, and Isaiah Joe in the protocols.
With this latest development, Doc Rivers had yet another hole to fill in his starting lineup for Monday's matchup against the Knicks. As expected, Andre Drummond was called on to hold down the frontcourt in Embiid's absence.
When the former All-Star center signed with the Sixers during the offseason, many were caught by surprise. Still to be in what's considered a player's prime years, Drummond could be the starting center on a number of NBA teams. His performance against the Knicks on Monday was a testament to that.
Drummond ended the night with a double-double, accumulating 14 points and an astonishing 25 rebounds. His rebounding total is the highest by a player in a game this season and the most by a Sixer since Charles Barkley in 1987.
Situations like the one the Sixers now find themselves in is why Daryl Morey went and acquired Drummond. The team has had a revolving door of backup centers over the years, but none have been able to fill in like this. Bringing in a guy like Drummond is the best form of Embiid insurance the team has ever had.
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Doc Rivers touched on the luxury of having Drummond as an option to fill in for Embiid when he is out of the lineup.
“He’s been great. Obviously, this is an extreme case without Joel [Embiid], we didn’t anticipate this. But, we do have a bona fide starting center, and that helps us for sure,” he said.
Following the tough loss to the Knicks, Furkan Korkmaz praised his new teammate. He feels the new addition has been overlooked, and the box score doesn't show his full impact on the court.
“We got to give him more credit because sometimes I think stats don’t show his real performance on the court,” said Korkmaz.
When news first broke of Drummond coming to Philadelphia, many saw it as a lateral move for the Sixers. Seeing the impact he has had so far this season, it is abundantly clear Drummond is a massive upgrade from Dwight Howard.
Between his physicality around the rim and ability to thrive in a defined role, Drummond has started his Sixers tenure on a high note. His ability to step up when needed will be crucial moving forward this season.
Being without the services of Embiid is the last predicament the Sixers want to find themselves in, but having Drummond waiting in the wings sure does soften the blow.
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