MILWAUKEE — The Philadelphia 76ers have played 31 games in the 2023-24 season without the services of Joel Embiid. The reigning league MVP was averaging 35.3 points before injuring the meniscus in his left knee and carrying the Sixers on his back.
In the 31 games without Embiid, the Sixers are 10-21 in those contests. By StatMuse, Philadelphia’s offensive rating goes from 122.9 with him to 112.0 without him and their net rating is +10.3 with him compared to -6.2 without him. To say the Sixers miss him is an understatement.
Paul Reed, who has done an admirable job of helping fill the massive void Embiid leaves, explained where the Sixers miss the big guy most.
“I just think he creates a lot of upside for us on the offensive end, especially on the offensive end,” Reed told Sixers Wire. “He always draws double teams and big help. I feel like it makes it easier for other guys on the floor to get easy buckets.
There is no clear timetable for when Embiid will return, but based on the timing of the procedure he underwent on Feb. 6, he is expected to return by late March or early April. The big guy certainly misses being with his teammates and fighting right now.
“I haven’t talked to him much,” Reed said. “I’m sure he’s working to get back on the field and heal, but mentally I’m sure he really wants to be out there and misses it. The last time I spoke to him he said he missed playing and being with us.
With Embiid out, the Sixers needed Reed to step up and produce on both ends of the court. He started stepping out and taking more open 3-point shots in an attempt to space the court for this group to move forward.
“I tried to do everything I could to help the team win and take the lead,” he said. “It’s a bit of my state of mind. Like you said, we miss Joel, I feel like I have to step in some different guys for us. This is one of the ways I can help.
The Sixers will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday to finish a 3-game road trip.
