How much does Joel Embiid's absense is affecting the Philadelphia 76ers?: Analysis and status update

Joel Embiid was having another phenomenal season with his Philadelphia 76ers. The star center suffered a knee injury that required surgery back on January 30th. The team is really missing him, by now, Embiid has been out for 12 games and the Sixers have only managed to win 4 of them. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, there's optimism about Joel's recovery and perhaps he could be back before March ends.

The Philadelphia 76ers are having a rough time without their superstar, experiencing a downfall from the top positions in the Eastern Conferences, to trying to hold tight that sixth spot in which they are sitting right now, chased closely by the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers, both teams with better present than the Sixers.

Regarding to Embiid's recovery, Woj stated:

"They still are optimistic than they can get him back on the court by some time in late march. Starting to get into condition. The goal here isn't necesarilly try to bring him back and see how many regular season games you might be able to win with him. The goal is to get him as healthy as he can be for the postseason."

"Hope they can hang-in where they are, and then have as stride, and mobile, and conditioned of a Joel Embiid as they can for what would be their play-in game, maybe as a seventh seed, or at 5 or 6th. A nightmare first round matchup for a team that gets home-court advantage in the East and all of the sudden here comes a healthy Joel Embiid with Buddy Hield, with Kyle Lowry, with all the additions."

"We're probably a week away from getting an update and a timeline with him, but I think there's still optimism in Philly that we will see Joel Embiid again this season," concluded the renowned NBA insider.

Surely this takes a smile out of all Sixers fans that hope to count with their MVP back for the playoffs to keep torching the opponents defense, Embiid was having a stellar 2023-24 season, with a strong chance of him winning back-to-back MVPs.

Joel was averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists. Shooting nearly 54% from the field, 36% from three and 88% from the free-throw line. Simply spectacular. A Joel Embiid's comeback could be the perfect ingredient for the highly anticipated NBA playoffs.