Despite an impressive start to the season, the Philadelphia 76ers continue to find themselves in a tough predicament. Health and safety protocol hit the team hard last season and has once again left Doc Rivers' roster shorthanded.

Early Monday afternoon, reports came out that Sixers star Joel Embiid will miss the team's matchup with the New York Knicks due to rest. Later on, news emerged the MVP runner-up has entered health and safety protocol and will be out for at least the next 10 days. He now joins teammates Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Isaiah Joe on the sidelines.

During his pregame media availability, Doc Rivers provided a health update for the All-Star center. Unfortunately, it was not be a positive one.

“He's not doing great. He's struggling with it. Very similar to Tobias [Harris],” Rivers said.

The Sixers have done a good job stepping up collectively in the absence of key players, but the road ahead is not shaping up well for them. It will now be on the supporting cast alone to keep the team afloat while all three members of their “Big 3” are out of the lineup.

Hearing the pair of stars are having a tough time could affect their return as well. Fans saw last season that a large sample of players did not look the same when they cleared protocol. If the Sixers want to keep their spot at the top of the Eastern Conference, they will need Embiid and Harris at their best.

One thing the Sixers have going for them is the elevated play from the role players. The entire roster has embraced the “next man up” mentality and it has been a catalyst for their “team wins” in recent contests.

The Sixers' young players have taken on this tough challenge in the opening weeks of the regular season, but one has to question if they can hold on long enough for the stars to return to form as they attempt to work their way back.