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Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid hasn't played since March 12 after suffering an injury against the Washington Wizards. The Sixers have done just fine in his absence, going 6-2 in the games their All-Star center has missed. Still, there's no doubting Philly can't wait for Embiid to rejoin the lineup.
While the timeline has been fairly foggy, head coach Doc Rivers may have tipped his hand on a potential return date for Embiid:
Interesting quote from Rivers: "A week ago, we had four centers. Now we're down to two. Without Joel, we're down to one and a bunch of small guys. That's just what we are for the next two games probably and then we're back to our normal rotation."
Might Embiid be back Saturday?
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) March 29, 2021
It sure sounds like Saturday could be the day Embiid returns to the lineup. Doc is a smart dude, and him saying that was probably a calculated move knowing exactly what is going on surrounding Embiid.
Embiid was playing at an MVP level before his injury, averaging 29.9 points to go along with 11.5 rebounds per game. His dominance on both ends of the court had catapulted him firmly into the MVP discussion alongside Nikola Jokic and LeBron James.
Embiid's absence came at a tricky time for the Sixers, as seven of the eight games without him have come against teams currently holding down a playoff spot. Philadelphia has managed just fine but know it is not a serious title contender unless Embiid is healthy and in the lineup.
The Sixers could be getting right at the perfect time of the year with Embiid's return seemingly on the horizon and with them acquiring George Hill at the NBA trade deadline.
Philly is currently 32-14, one game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets for the top position in the Eastern Conference.
