The Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers will square off for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. Jimmy Butler will face his former team but without their key player. Joel Embiid's orbital fracture and concussion are a huge detriment to the Sixers and their chances of moving forward in the NBA playoffs.

With injuries defining this year's playoffs in both conferences, the Sixers are the next team to see their best player go down. Miami will have a much easier time going against Philadelphia without their superstar. Embiid powers the Sixers on both sides of the ball. Without him, the pressure falls on Tyrese Maxey and James Harden to keep the offense going and several other big men to fill the void in the middle.

Butler, who spent half a season as Embiid's teammate in Philadelphia, said that he feels bad for Embiid and hopes he will return to the court during the Heat-Sixers series. The two stars have a solid friendship.

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The Heat already have the homecourt advantage over the Sixers and now are free of dealing with Embiid, at least for a few games. Although Philadelphia is still not to be taken lightly, Miami will have a much, much easier time as they look to advance again in the NBA playoffs.

The Jimmy Butler-Joel Embiid matchup may not play out in the NBA playoffs. The Sixers will have to live with the brutal reality as they look to take down the top-seeded Heat.