We have to admit that with the first round of the playoffs to eliminate the Raptors 4-2, the Philadelphia 76ers who advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals have undoubtedly attracted a lot of fans and media attention in the next playoffs!
The so-called difficult beginning, the importance of G1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals for the Heat and the 76ers is obviously self-evident, coupled with the fact that both sides have main injuries, which also makes the Heat and 76ers' Eastern Conference semifinals full of highlights.
And just one night, in the preparation for the Eastern Conference semifinals G1, the Philadelphia 76ers have three major news, and this may also have a big impact on the situation of the Eastern Conference semifinals!
According to the US media The Athletic reporter Shams Charania, the source revealed that the 76ers' star Joel Embiid has been confirmed to have suffered an orbital fracture + minor concussion after an examination after the first round of G6 games in the playoffs.
According to the league's regulations on the management of player injuries, as well as a series of assessments by health experts, Embiid, who is plagued by injuries, will be out of the game indefinitely, and there is no clear comeback schedule!
Obviously, for the 76ers who are about to open the Eastern Conference semifinals, the absence of embiid, the core of the team, will undoubtedly be a huge blow to the team's competition for the next semifinals.
After all, in the first round of the playoffs against the Raptors, Embiid's performance is obvious to all, after the whole round of the series, Embiid fought with an injury, averaging 26.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, which is the inner pillar of the 76ers!
Now with Embiid's absence, it has to be said that whether the 76ers can withstand the pressure in the Eastern Conference semifinals, as another core of the team, James Harden single-handedly led the team, will undoubtedly usher in a huge challenge.
Joining the Philadelphia 76ers in the middle of the season, Harden did not lack bright spots for the improvement and improvement of the team's offensive and defensive ends, and successfully helped the 76ers lock in the fourth place record and ranking in the East in the regular season.
In the playoffs, Ha's all-around performance of averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1 steal, 1.2 blocks, has also become the most trustworthy scoring and organizational point around Embiid!
Coupled with the fact that Maxi + Harris has experienced the baptism of the first round of the playoffs, the state has gradually entered a better state, and the overall strength and depth of the 76ers' lineup is actually not bad.
Just considering Harden's performance in the past to lead the team to the playoffs, I have to say that whether Harden can break the shadow hanging over his head in the Eastern Conference Semifinals will also usher in a career round of significant proof battle!
Of course, as the team's head coach, although he broke the "reverse curse" in the first round, the elder Rivers will undoubtedly face a new round of tests after losing Embiid, a capable player, facing the Eastern Conference semifinals with the Heat.
In this regard, in an interview with the media, The Elder Rivers finally made a statement on embiid's situation, and revealed the team's plan to play against the Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals, saying: "We will play harden-led offense, consider small lineups, and we may need all four centers (Richards/ Jordan Jr./Millsap/Bussi)."
From the current situation, Jordan Jr. + Reed + Millsap is relatively healthy, and 21-year-old young player Charles Bussi has recently returned from injury, which is also good news for the 76ers.
Rationally speaking, these four centers have their own advantages and disadvantages, in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Heat series, these four people who were hand-picked by head coach Rivers Sr. obviously need to take practical actions to help the team!
As for the Eastern Conference semifinals battle between the 76ers and the Heat, who will die, and which team will be able to stand out and break into the Eastern Conference Finals, we seem to have to wait and see!