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Just when the Philadelphia 76ers thought they were about to get Joel Embiid back from quarantine to play the Denver Nuggets today, they got the news that Embiid and Ben Simmons will miss today's game due to injuries.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, this is the injury update for the two Sixers stars:
Sixers are planning to list Embiid out with back tightness and Simmons with left knee swelling, sources tell ESPN. Neither will play today. Mike Scott will be upgraded to available, source said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2021
Embiid decided to self-isolate himself after sitting next to Seth Curry on the bench. Curry tested positive for COVID-19 just before the game against the Brooklyn Nets this past Thursday. Though the big man was set to return to play after being cleared, many other players were forced to quarantine due to health protocols.
There was talk about possible postponement for the Sixers' game against the Nuggets today, as Woj explained how postponing the game might be better than playing the game short-handed. This was his take on the matter:
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No organization wants to play a game w/ eight players, especially against an opponent like Denver. Sixers might prefer postponement, but NBA's under pressure to keep a balanced playing field for each team faced w/ these situations in pandemic. This will be a recurring instance.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2021
Teams have faced and will continue to face problems that arise when COVID-19 takes a toll on a team's roster. Quarantining the players that may have been exposed to the virus while making sure that teams have at least eight players when playing a game will be an issue all season.
Woj made a good point about the NBA keeping a “balanced playing field” for each organization under these circumstances. Teams can not be expected to play at their highest level if a good portion of their roster has to isolate. Even though Simmons and Embiid may not play due to injury, players such as Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, and Vincent Poirier can not support the team at this time, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
By upgrading Mike Scott, the Sixers will have just enough to play the game today. However, it may not be the best idea going up against Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray without a solid roster.
