It's not much, but it's at least a little something: if Joel Embiid can rest up enough after missing Game 2 due to hip and ankle injuries, then the Philadelphia 76ers may actually have a chance to get healthy and help the team climb out of their 0-2 series deficit against the New York Knicks.
Moving forward, there will be one day off in between games this series, unless it goes to a Game 7 (which would take place three days after a hypothetical Game 6). And while it might not seem like a lot, that could be enough to get Embiid back on the court, especially if they can take Game 3 on Friday (assuming he remains out).
The 76ers need Joel Embiid healthy to keep their season alive
Philadelphia has been without Embiid for four games this postseason and is 1-3 in those games (A 111-97 Game 2 victory against the Boston Celtics is the lone win). While the team does have some real talent aside from Embiid (namely Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe), it's clear that they are at a real disadvantage when the Kansas alum is on the sidelines.
Embiid isn't the same guy he was when he won the MVP award in 2023. He's not as explosive or mobile as he was then, and he's not as strong a defensive anchor as he once was. Even so, it's clear that he is still a valuable part of Philadelphia's success.
The 32-year-old is an elite paint presence on both sides of the ball, is practically unstoppable in the mid-range, and has improved drastically as a playmaker. Unfortunately for him and the 76ers, he's not on the court nearly as often as everybody wants him to be (62 total games combined over the past two seasons, including this year's playoffs), but when he's there, his impact is unmistakable.
For the 76ers to have any chance to pull off the upset (and comeback) against New York, they need Embiid back as soon as possible.
Joel Embiid's absence is highlighting another major problem
One of Philadelphia's biggest weaknesses is its center depth, and that is on full display with Embiid on the shelf.
Adem Bona and Andre Drummond each have their appeals (athleticism, high motor, defensive versatility for Bona; rebounding, veteran presence for Drummond), but neither of them is good enough to replace Embiid in the middle of a game, let alone step up in his role during a playoff series against Karl-Anthony Towns.
Neither of them has the gravity, scoring, or playmaking skills that Embiid does. And with neither of them being stretch bigs (Drummond is not a stretch big, regardless of how much he is trying to become one), it messes up a big part of Philadelphia's dynamic on offense.
In the offseason, the 76ers are going to have to address their center depth and find a real solution for whenever Embiid isn't on the court. But for now, they're just going to have to figure it out on the fly, and it may inevitably lead to their demise.