PHILADELPHIA — The dreaded words that have surrounded the Sixers for more than a couple of seasons are starting to creep their way around the organization with alarming normalcy lately. "Right knee soreness" is a phrase that makes the Delaware Valley cringe and think of one person — Joel Embiid.
The center missed his second straight game Wednesday due to the injury that is probably going to plague him for the rest of his career. Following his absence in Portland on Monday, the final game of a five-game West Coast Road trip, most assumed he'd be ready to go and face division rival New York in the final game before the All-Star Break. But coach Nick Nurse gave the news in his pre game press conference.
"That's the report, right knee soreness," said Nurse. "After the game in Phoenix (on Saturday there was soreness). It's bothering him enough that he's not playing. I think it is improving a little bit. It's just not quite there to get out there tonight."
Embiid has been playing his best all-around basketball of late and moving with a combination of finesse and power that hasn't been seen from him in quite some time. In his past 10 games, he's averaged 33.1 points a game and close to 36 minutes a game. Now, he will have extended time off during the break as the team doesn't return to action until Thursday, Feb. 19.
"Anybody that's sore and a little banged up has a chance here to get some treatment for a week and off their feet for a week, and he would certainly be included in that for sure," said Nurse. "Not a ton. Not a ton of concern. I think this is probably what we've expected to have happen, that there would be some soreness at times."
Perhaps this was the plan all along, to give Embiid a longer rest than most before and during the break and have him more than ready for the final 28 games of the season. Of course, that's been the plan for years now, but rarely has him staying injury-free worked out.
Embiid's movement and dominance has been an unexpected and welcomed addition to the team.
"I think so," said Nurse of Embiid exceeding expectations. "I think probably more from just the kind of rhythm of games and minutes where it was and now it's kind of a lot more consistent with a lot heavier minutes. I mean, we were a long way away from that at the start of the year. I think he's made some huge strides and he'll still tell you that he's still not near 100 percent. Not close. So I think that's encouraging because he's starting to look pretty good again in a lot of different areas."
