If the playoffs started today, the Philadelphia 76ers would be sitting pretty with an automatic postseason berth - and more importantly, they'd have both Joel Embiid and Paul George available. Neither star is sidelined, just on carefully managed workloads.
That’s a big deal for a team with championship aspirations. Still, anyone who's followed this team - or Embiid’s career - knows the phrase “injury management” can be a fragile promise come playoff time.
Right now, the Sixers would be slotted into a first-round matchup against the third-seeded Toronto Raptors, who are just half a game ahead of the Knicks in the standings. Win that, and Philly would likely face the No.
2 Boston Celtics or No. 7 Miami Heat in the second round - assuming the play-in tournament doesn’t shake things up too dramatically.
Get past that, and the top-seeded Detroit Pistons could be waiting in the conference finals.
It’s a gauntlet, no question. And it’s the kind of playoff path that demands not just talent, but durability - something Joel Embiid hasn’t always been able to count on.
There’s no doubt that when Embiid is healthy, he’s one of the most dominant forces in the league. His combination of size, footwork, and touch is unmatched, and when he’s locked in, he can control both ends of the floor.
But staying healthy through a deep playoff run? That’s the million-dollar question.
History gives us reason for pause. Just two years ago, Embiid was battling on one leg in a brutal first-round series against the Knicks, while also dealing with Bell’s Palsy.
He’d had surgery earlier that year to repair a torn meniscus, and by the time the Sixers bowed out in Game 6, it was clear he’d been running on fumes. That version of Embiid was a warrior, no doubt, but far from the MVP-caliber player we’ve seen when he’s at full strength.
Fast forward to now - and yes, Embiid looks significantly better. He’s moving well, playing at an elite level, and the Sixers are reaping the benefits.
But it’s still January. The postseason is a different animal entirely - two months of high-intensity basketball, with little room for recovery and even less margin for error.
Even the healthiest stars feel the toll.
Analysts are already questioning whether the Sixers could survive three grueling rounds against teams like the Raptors, Celtics, and Pistons without Embiid breaking down. It’s hard to see Philly sweeping anyone, which means at least five or six games per series - a lot of minutes, a lot of contact, and a lot of risk for a big man with a long injury history.
Now, if Embiid can stay healthy? That changes everything.
With him anchoring the paint and Paul George bringing his two-way versatility, the Sixers have the tools to make a legitimate run at the Eastern Conference crown. But that’s a big “if” - and one the franchise has learned to handle with caution.
For now, the Sixers are wisely taking it one game at a time. They’re not looking ahead, and frankly, they can’t afford to.
But for fans, it’s impossible not to wonder. How long can Embiid keep this up?
Can his body hold up when the games matter most?
Those questions will linger until April - and maybe beyond. But in the meantime, all Philadelphia can do is enjoy the ride. Because when Joel Embiid is playing like this, the Sixers are a team no one wants to see in the playoffs.