Coming into the season, the Philadelphia 76ers know they have plenty of players who can score the ball. Many believe the 76ers have what it takes to make a deep run in the playoffs.
It is all about staying healthy, which is something LeBron James and Joel Embiid struggled with at times last season. This season, Embiid feels good as the regular season gets underway.
“Pretty good," Embiid said. "Not bad. I don't know, that's probably (he took a pause), I said I would never dunk again. In the moment, he did block me the first time so I was kind of pissed off about it. So I was hoping that he would jump again, so that's why I went for it. But, yeah, that's probably the last dunk of my career."
For James, there is a lot to monitor when it comes to his health. Despite the concerns, there is a strong belief that he looks much better now than he did at this point last season.
“LeBron missed the first 15 games of last season and was clearly limited with his handle as he battled sciatica issues. It coincided with his first summer playing golf consistently. He looks noticeably healthier this offseason and more fluid with his movement,” NBA writer Damien Peters wrote.
With both players dealing with injuries over the past year, Philadelphia has put a clear plan in place to manage their workloads. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the 76ers hope to limit both players to around 30 minutes per game during the first few weeks of the season.
“My understanding is Lebron James, Joel Embiid - the hope is within the first few weeks of the season limit them to around 30 minutes a game,” Charania said.
It is a smart approach by the organization, as Philadelphia looks to ensure that two of its key players are ready for the long season ahead. After all, the NBA regular season consists of 82 games, making it important for both stars to stay as healthy as possible.
As the 76ers settle into the season, James and Embiid could see their minutes increase as they continue to build rhythm and get a feel for each game. For now, the plan is to keep both players around the 30-minute mark, barring situations such as overtime. Philadelphia will be looking to manage their workloads carefully and avoid putting unnecessary strain on its two stars.
