The Sixers are in a very difficult spot heading into the second round of the NBA Playoffs. They are staring down a series with the Atlanta Hawks, a trendy team that many are picking to pull off a massive upset and could be going at it without their MVP candidate, Joel Embiid. A small tear in the big man’s meniscus in his right knee has the potential to throw a wrench in the plan of the Sixers’ playoff run should he be forced to miss significant time.
Against the Washington Wizards in round one, the Sixers were able to get by with the combination of Ben Simmons and Dwight Howard soaking up the minutes at center, but against a team with more depth and skill, getting away with that combination is going to be a bit harder.