76ers’ Joel Embiid will return for Game 3 against Miami Heat
From a thumb injury to broken bones in his face, the 76ers’ star has battled to be ready, but will it matter in the end?
If ever there was a time that the Sixers needed their star, it’s right here and now. The question is given the short turn around, can he really be of help?
76ers’ Joel Embiid to return for Game 3
To say that the Philadelphia 76ers have missed All-Star center Joel Embiid would be like saying the sky is blue. That’s to say it has been glaringly obvious that after two losses to the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs, the Sixers have looked like a different team with their main man sidelined. At present Embiid is officially listed as ‘out indefinitely’ after suffering a concussion and broken orbital bone during Game 6 of his team’s first round series against the Toronto Raptors.
With that said the center was at first announced to be doubtful for Game 3, before even more encouraging news which stated that he had in fact cleared concussion protocols and what’s more actually participated in Friday’s team shootaround. If that wasn’t enough to encourage his team, the MVP candidate has now been listed as available following his pregame workout as per reports. Granted he will likele be limited in the amount of minutes he spends on the court, but at this point the Sixers will take all the ehlp they can get.
It’s been a rough time for Joel Embiid
With a concussion and facial fracture, one could ask whether or not things can get any worse for Embiid, but the reality is it’s actually been par for the course where the star center’s post season is concerned. As was reported earlier in the playoffs, the big man was already playing with pain as he attempted to overcome torn ligaments in his right thumb, which will in fact require surgery after the season is over. At the time Embiid vowed that he would play regardless of the situation, which seems to be a clear indication of where the player’s mentality is at as he hopes to help his team make a run for a title.
At this point it matters not how Embiid sustained the injury after being elbowed by Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, nor does it matter whether he played with pain is thumb. Truly the only thing that will be of importance to the 76ers’ star, his teammates, the franchise as a whole and the fans, is whether or not their star can get on the court and help the team to avoid going 3-0 down to a Miami Heat team that has the look of NBA champions about them.