One of the loudest storylines this postseason for the Sixers was the multiple injuries Joel Embiid had sustained in the first round of the playoffs. In the closing game of the round against the Raptors, Joel Embiid was struck in the face by an elbow to the face by Pascal Siakam, which led to an orbital fracture and a concussion. Before even that, Embiid suffered was a torn thumb in his shooting hand, which supposedly was even more of a hindrance than the fractured orbital/concussion. After toughing it out for over a month, 76ers’ star Joel Embiid has undergone successful surgeries on his thumb and on his left index finger.
The injury was clearly an issue for the Sixers’ who struggled offensively in the second half of the series against Toronto and what portion of the series against Miami he was a able to play. Since the injury was announced — after Game 3 of the first round, Embiid averaged just 21.9 points and 9.7 rebounds for the 76ers. That may sound more than solid, but it’s certainly a step below the usual seen by the MVP runner-up. What was even more concerning was the decline Embiid saw in his shooting percentages. His field goal percentage dipped to 47.3% from the floor and a rough 14.3% from three.
With the surgery now complete, the recovery begins for Joel Embiid. The good news for Sixers fans is that the superstar is expected to be fully ready to go for the start of training camp. This upcoming season may be the most important since “the Process” began, so Embiid being ready for the start of camp is crucial. Now it’s up to Daryl Morey to work on the rest of the team while Embiid begins his rest and recovery.
