- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,130,247
- Reaction score
- 59
PHILADELPHIA -- It's go time for the Philadelphia 76ers. There are nine games left on the calendar, and after Wednesday's 157-137 win over the Chicago Bulls, they are just half a game back of the Toronto Raptors for the sixth and final guaranteed playoff spot in the East.
Joel Embiid and Paul George returned to the floor as Embiid missed 13 games due to a right oblique strain while George missed 25 games due to a league suspension. The Sixers have nine games left and are in prime position to climb out of the play-in and possibly even move up to the No. 5 seed as they are only a game back of the Atlanta Hawks in that position.
Embiid has been battling injuries all season and the Sixers had not let him play in back-to-backs just yet. In the final nine games, Philadelphia does have two sets of back-to-backs on April 3-4 and then April 8-9. One has to wonder if the big fella will be able to play in those sets.
"I don't know," Embiid said. "I'm just following whatever plan they have. They have a plan. So, whatever they tell me, I guess I'm gonna do it."
Embiid is a player who needs to get out there and catch a rhythm. In order for him to be in the best shape for the playoffs and such, he will need to play. He knows it. Either way, he feels confident in himself that he will be ready when the time calls for it.
"Just play basketball," he said. "I'm good. I'm ready. So I feel OK. So it's time to go and try to win some games. Wherever we end up, we end up, and go. Whether it’s the play-in. Go in whatever that's gonna be playing, and go win some games and get into the playoffs, and let's see what we got."
As for George, he just wants to get on the court. Having to be sidelined for those 25 games was not easy for him and he just wants to be in the best position to help the Sixers. He also was unable to play in any back-to-backs earlier in the season so one has to wonder if Philadelphia will allow him to do so down the stretch.
"Yeah, I mean, I hope so," George said. "We’re gonna definitely attack it one game at a time, but I want to play all of these 10, give us the best chance to get a good seed. Get good positioning. So, yeah, if my body is still feeling how I expect it to feel, absolutely."
The Sixers will get back at it on Saturday when they begin a 3-game road trip against the Charlotte Hornets.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Joel Embiid, Paul George on possibly playing in final games for Sixers
Continue reading...
Joel Embiid and Paul George returned to the floor as Embiid missed 13 games due to a right oblique strain while George missed 25 games due to a league suspension. The Sixers have nine games left and are in prime position to climb out of the play-in and possibly even move up to the No. 5 seed as they are only a game back of the Atlanta Hawks in that position.
Embiid has been battling injuries all season and the Sixers had not let him play in back-to-backs just yet. In the final nine games, Philadelphia does have two sets of back-to-backs on April 3-4 and then April 8-9. One has to wonder if the big fella will be able to play in those sets.
"I don't know," Embiid said. "I'm just following whatever plan they have. They have a plan. So, whatever they tell me, I guess I'm gonna do it."
Embiid is a player who needs to get out there and catch a rhythm. In order for him to be in the best shape for the playoffs and such, he will need to play. He knows it. Either way, he feels confident in himself that he will be ready when the time calls for it.
"Just play basketball," he said. "I'm good. I'm ready. So I feel OK. So it's time to go and try to win some games. Wherever we end up, we end up, and go. Whether it’s the play-in. Go in whatever that's gonna be playing, and go win some games and get into the playoffs, and let's see what we got."
As for George, he just wants to get on the court. Having to be sidelined for those 25 games was not easy for him and he just wants to be in the best position to help the Sixers. He also was unable to play in any back-to-backs earlier in the season so one has to wonder if Philadelphia will allow him to do so down the stretch.
"Yeah, I mean, I hope so," George said. "We’re gonna definitely attack it one game at a time, but I want to play all of these 10, give us the best chance to get a good seed. Get good positioning. So, yeah, if my body is still feeling how I expect it to feel, absolutely."
The Sixers will get back at it on Saturday when they begin a 3-game road trip against the Charlotte Hornets.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Joel Embiid, Paul George on possibly playing in final games for Sixers
Continue reading...
