The Philadelphia 76ers have fallen in the standings since Joel Embiid suffered a meniscus injury in his left knee in January. The Sixers have gone from being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference to fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament. With only 9 games remaining in the regular season, the Sixers are desperately hoping for Embiid to return before the playoffs start. Amid Philly’s struggles, NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski gave a massive update about the reigning MVP’s status.

Woj revealed that Sixers head coach Nick Nurse is optimistic about Joel Embiid returning before the end of the regular season. “I am told it is not a question of if but when.” According to Woj, Embiid has made great progress in his recovery from surgery and will likely play in a handful of regular season games before the playoffs begin. “There’s a lot of optimism right now around Joel Embiid. I am told he is moving well,” Woj further iterates.

Following the improved condition, Embiid is also expected to play in the play-in tournament if the Sixers are unable to move up in the standings. They were seeded 8th in the Eastern Conference with a 39-33 record and tied with the Miami Heat. However, the Sixers’ triumph over the LA Clippers tonight, helped them gain a one up over Jimmy Butler and Co. on the table.

Nonetheless, the Sixers need Embiid, who missed his 27th game, to return as soon as possible considering they have been abysmal without him. Tyrese Maxey and Co. are 13-25 without the reigning MVP this season. Not only will Embiid’s early return help the Sixers get into the playoffs, but it will also help him get back in game shape before the post-season begins.

Will Joel Embiid be able to play in MVP form after return?

Even if Joel Embiid returns as per the timeline, it is uncertain if he will be able to regain his MVP form. Embiid has not played an NBA game for nearly 2 months and is coming off a major injury. So, he might not be able to perform at the same level he was before he got injured. Embiid was averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists and was en route to becoming a back-to-back MVP. Apart from Embiid’s questionable form, he also has a history of choking in the playoffs.

While Embiid is a great regular-season player, he has failed to find any significant success in the post-season. The reigning MVP has frequently failed to lead the Sixers out of the second round of the playoffs throughout his career. The Sixers’ problems might not be over even after Embiid returns, for, there will be a lot of ambiguity about how he plays when it matters the most.

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