How bad can a season get within the first ten games? For the Philadelphia 76ers, that answer changes by the minute. The Sixers, at every turn, have a new controversy, investigation, or injury that has completely undermined any ability to find any level of success this season. The latest example of this is a hamstring injury Tyrese Maxey suffered Wednesday night, which will cause Maxey to miss multiple weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Just In: Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey is expected to miss a couple of weeks because of a right hamstring injury, sources told ESPN. Full evaluation coming later Thursday but sides are bracing for Maxey’s absence. Sixers will take careful approach with the injury. pic.twitter.com/sPxFnsylYF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 7, 2024
Paul George has just returned to the team following a bone bruise in his left knee, Joel Embiid is still serving a three-game sentence after the Marcus Hayes incident, and before that, the condition of his left knee and the mental battle of believing in a knee that has suffered such trauma. Now, the Sixers will also miss Maxey while they sit tied with the league’s worst record at 1-6. Maxey had been the only somewhat consistent source of offense for Philadelphia.
Averaging 27.6 points per game, albeit with some rather poor shooting percentages, Maxey is tied for the eighth most in points per game in the NBA. The Sixers, simply put, have no option to replace him, and with Embiid out until Tuesday and then every back-to-back thereafter, things appear set to only become even uglier for Philadelphia, which seemed impossible. It still remains a long season, but the Sixers will face an incredible challenge to fight their way back into playoff positioning. Without Maxey for multiple weeks and the projected spotty attendance of both Emiid and George, the Sixers are extremely likely to find themselves up creek without a paddle.
An eventual trade is expected to help improve the situation for Philadelphia, but the Sixers are expected to wait until they are far closer to the deadline to make a move. Also, the odds of said player making up the difference that any of the Sixers’ stars provide is virtually impossible.
It’s never a good sign for a contender when the most positive conversation around the team one can make is the fact that they’re in line to draft a generational talent. Things are already getting out of hand for Philadelphia. They will need Joel Embiid not only to return soon but also to do so in a big way and perhaps even break his claim about sitting out all back-to-back.
