NBA playoffs 2024 – Joel Embiid’s well being and the supporting solid stay main questions for the 76ers

GAME 5 FELT over. As did one other Philadelphia 76ers’ season.

A 15-foot jumper by New York Knicks guard Miles McBride had simply put them up six factors with 28.9 seconds remaining, and the bought out Madison Sq. Backyard crowd rose to its toes in preparation to rejoice closing out a collection at dwelling for the primary time since reaching the NBA Finals in 1999. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse tried to rally his crew as followers danced within the aisles.

However then Tyrese Maxey baited Knicks massive man Mitchell Robinson right into a taking pictures foul on a made 3-pointer. And moments later, the first-time All-Star guard pulled up from the middle courtroom brand to bury a game-tying 3 with 8.1 seconds left, which pressured time beyond regulation and rescued Philadelphia from elimination.

After the Sixers prevailed within the additional body, Maxey stomped down the MSG courtroom and let loose an unbridled roar whereas the courtside movie star row appeared on in disbelief.

This primary-round collection was outlined by wild finishes: Recreation 2 ended with an identical historic comeback by the Knicks, whereas Thursday’s deciding Recreation 6 featured extra clutch-time heroics from New York.

It additionally marked the tip of Philadelphia’s longtime quest to seek out their reigning MVP’s sidekick.

“It’s superb, simply seeing the expansion and seeing what he is been in a position to accomplish,” Joel Embiid informed ESPN about Maxey’s growth this season.

“We have talked about Jamal Murray, and what he is at all times accomplished for [Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic] within the playoffs. …

“[Maxey is] not afraid. Make or miss pictures, he’ll maintain going. I’ve at all times seen that from him and I at all times knew that he had it in him. So I am simply glad that in these moments when I simply cannot do it, I’ve another person that may choose me up.”

Since Embiid arrived to Philadelphia because the third choose within the 2014 draft, a collection of setbacks have surrounded the franchise: ill-timed accidents for the All-NBA heart; postseason heartbreak, akin to Kawhi Leonard’s miracle bouncing jumper in 2019; and disappointing acquisitions, akin to Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz through the draft and Jimmy Butler and James Harden through trades.

This season, it was Embiid’s meniscus damage that required surgical procedure in February that derailed the season — the seventh straight wherein the crew has exited in both the primary or second spherical of the playoffs.

However the 23-year-old Maxey’s ascension, and quite a few pathways for the franchise to enhance this offseason, have the 76ers in a much better scenario than after previous playoff failures.

“We have got some work to do,” Nurse stated after Recreation 6, “We’ll must determine that out right here this summer time, however I definitely like the place we’re going, particularly with Tyrese.

“I feel individuals had been questioning the place he suits on this factor, however I feel everyone knows now that Joel and Tyrese is a hell of a combo to begin with. We simply must get again to work.”

EMBIID WAS ATOP the NBA world. It was Dec. 14, and he was within the midst of a scintillating begin to the 2023-24 season, main the league with 33.8 factors per sport. (That quantity would swell to 34.7 as he’d end the season with extra whole factors than minutes performed — one thing solely Wilt Chamberlain had accomplished.)

The 76ers, a couple of weeks faraway from dealing Harden to the LA Clippers, had been tied for third place within the Jap Convention standings. Maxey had begun his ascent to his first All-Star choice and the league’s Most Improved Participant award. Nurse, Embiid’s former tormentor as coach of the Toronto Raptors, had changed Doc Rivers and given Embiid new artistic license offensively, resulting in a career-high 5.6 assists per sport.

However no participant is extra conscious of how rapidly issues within the NBA can change than Embiid, whose 10-year profession has been tormented by premature accidents — many suffered throughout the postseason.

“Each single 12 months of my profession, I’ve had a bunch of freak accidents,” Embiid informed ESPN then.

“My first playoffs, I get hit within the face by my teammate. Within the second 12 months, 2019, Toronto collection, I bought actually sick and I had a [knee] downside. In 2020, bubble do not depend. 2021, meniscus. 2022, damaged face and the finger. 2023, freaking Grade 2 LCL sprain.

“I simply want a bit of little bit of luck. However, then once more, I at all times imagine that every little thing occurs for a purpose. If that is meant to be, then I am OK with it.”

Lower than two weeks later, Embiid missed Philadelphia’s Christmas Day loss with the Miami Warmth because of a knee damage. He returned from that damage to place up spectacular performances — together with a 70-point masterpiece towards the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 22 — however unhealthy luck struck once more on Jan. 30, when Golden State Warriors ahead Jonathan Kuminga fell on Embiid’s left leg.

Embiid’s meniscus damage required a two-month absence, throughout which Philadelphia went 11-18 — a part of an general 16-27 report when Embiid did not play, in comparison with a 31-8 mark when he did.

Not solely was Embiid out of the MVP race because of not enjoying within the 65 video games required for the award, however Philadelphia was despatched tumbling into the play-in match.

However Maxey stated his stint as Philly’s No. 1 choice sped up his studying course of, each on offense and because the crew’s de facto chief with Embiid sidelined.

“There’s quite a lot of issues I must work on, however reps are the most important factor for me this season,” Maxey stated after Recreation 6. “Particularly when Joel went out, I noticed quite a lot of totally different coverages, quite a lot of totally different sport plans and quite a lot of totally different schemes, and it actually made me a greater participant, a greater particular person, higher basketball thoughts.”

Embiid returned earlier than the tip of the common season, had a pivotal function in serving to Philly outduel the Warmth within the 7-8 sport of the play-in match, and put up a 50-point efficiency in Recreation 3 of Philadelphia’s first-round collection towards the Knicks. However Embiid revealed after the win that he was additionally enjoying via a case of Bell’s palsy, which had impacted the left facet of his face.

“Each single 12 months, you begin asking your self questions like, ‘Why?’ Each single 12 months it is … very annoying. Possibly it is simply meant to be. Simply gotta take it as it’s,” Embiid stated in December.

“However the one factor I am not going to do is quit it doesn’t matter what occurs. Gotta maintain pushing, gotta maintain preventing, gotta maintain placing my physique on the road, for my household, for this metropolis, for this crew.”

Embiid, enjoying via his varied illnesses, completed Recreation 6 of this collection with a team-high 39 factors and 13 rebounds and his fourth double-double of the collection. Maxey, regardless of a comparatively paltry 17 factors in Thursday’s deciding sport, completed the collection averaging 29.8 factors per sport and 40.0% taking pictures from 3.

And whereas Embiid and Maxey will likely be again for an additional run, Philadelphia as soon as once more will likely be altering out lots of the gamers round them.

IN DECEMBER, EMBIID lamented the truth that, in contrast to earlier championship groups such because the Nuggets and Warriors, his supporting solid in Philadelphia has been continually altering.

“There’s by no means been any continuity,” Embiid stated then. “You take a look at Denver final 12 months. They have been collectively for, what, 5, six, seven years? Golden State, they have been collectively for a very long time. So, sooner or later, in the event you actually need to win, you gotta have some key guys. After which, right here and there, you may add a bunch of men and simply learn to play with one another and develop collectively.

“In some unspecified time in the future, it is going to occur.”

That time will not be this summer time. Philadelphia enters this offseason with 12 open roster spots and simply three gamers below contract: Embiid, backup heart Paul Reed and rookie Ricky Council IV on a non-guaranteed deal.

Even Maxey will change into a restricted free agent this summer time, although that can all however definitely be rectified with a max contract provide as quickly as free company begins on June 30.

“Tyrese is nice. He is simply in the beginning of who he’s, and Joel is on the prime. Even when he is getting back from damage, he is nonetheless an important participant,” 76ers ahead Nicolas Batum informed ESPN.

“That is an important recipe when you will have these two guys, particularly a guard and a giant man who love enjoying collectively. … They match effectively collectively.”

The franchise will spend the offseason figuring out who suits finest round them.

Maxey is not signed but to an extension as a result of Philadelphia has hopes of signing a star in free company so as to add alongside him and Embiid. There have been designs on pursuing guard Jrue Vacation, sources informed ESPN, however he signed an extension with the Boston Celtics. The identical holds true for the highest two wing gamers presently slated to hit free company, LA Clippers ahead Paul George and Knicks ahead OG Anunoby, although each are additionally anticipated to stay with their present groups.

Sources informed ESPN there are a selection of various paths the 76ers might take. One is to make use of a number of picks the 76ers could have obtainable — as much as 5 first-rounders — and pursue a commerce for a star. Executives across the NBA have informed ESPN that they anticipate this to be an lively summer time throughout the league, as high-spending groups grapple with restrictions below the brand new collective bargaining settlement.

An alternative choice is so as to add a number of high-level function gamers round Embiid and Maxey, constructing out a well-rounded beginning lineup just like what Denver has accomplished round Jokic and Murray. Philadelphia might additionally re-sign a few of its pending free brokers to shorter-term contracts, with an eye fixed towards utilizing its draft capital on future celebrity trades.

The 76ers’ largest potential free agent is ahead Tobias Harris, who averaged 17.2 factors within the common season however solely 10.8 on this collection whereas making almost $40 million. League sources anticipate Harris, who has been on the heart of fan frustrations in Philadelphia, to be elsewhere subsequent season.

In the meantime, the crew’s main commerce deadline acquisition this season, sharpshooting guard Buddy Hield, went a mixed 1-for-7 from the sphere and missed all 4 3-pointers within the first 5 video games towards the Knicks earlier than scoring 20 factors in Recreation 6.

A number of key contributors throughout this run — Kelly Oubre Jr., who signed a one-year minimal deal final summer time, plus veterans Kyle Lowry and Batum — have been valued by the 76ers this season, and all might return. The identical goes for De’Anthony Melton, a starter final 12 months and for a lot of this season earlier than a again concern restricted him to only eight video games in 2024.

An hour after Philadelphia’s season ended, Embiid sat at his postgame information convention. Usually, he sits on the rostrum by himself. This time, he had Maxey by his facet.

And, after talking on the frustration of how this season completed, Embiid appeared to the potential he sees in his partnership with Maxey and the entrance workplace’s potential to construct round them.

“It type of seems thrilling,” Embiid stated after Recreation 6. “I do not know what they will do. However they do have quite a lot of cap area and picks, so that they have the chance to do one thing good. [But] that is an important place to be in.

“You bought a younger celebrity, face of the franchise for his entire profession, actually, in Philly. That is thrilling … [we’re] making an attempt to construct one thing nice right here.”