There is a sense of restlessness in the Philadelphia 76ers locker. Even though Joel Embiid is somewhat playing consistently, every game is a must-win. After their slow start without the star big man, Embiid helped the team find their groove back. However, just as he began to play consistently, another injury struck. This time a nasal fracture and a left foot sprain keep him out of the game against the Phoenix Suns tonight. But this shouldn’t go on for long.

Coach Nick Nurse spoke about the injury-riddled ace recovering well from his foot injury. This will be the second game Embiid has missed in a row and his 21st of the season. But Nurse has seen some positives with his foot. “Nothing major,” he said about The Process’ foot injury. Still, the injury list has other names aside from Joel Embiid.

Nurse expects some of those reinforcements to return along with the foundational star. However, he has also set some lofty goals for Embiid and those returning. “There should be some improvement in that…we’d probably like to be hoping guys are playing whether it’s a back-to-back or not,” Nurse said about the squad.

In a turbulent season for The Process, he has retracted from his statement of being unable to play back-to-backs. However, Embiid is yet to feature in such games. With the 76ers sitting at a 14-20 record, the time and the space for rest have deflated. The franchise needs Joel Embiid to be playing as many games as possible.

And Nick Nurse is trying to establish his expectations on the verge of Embiid’s return.

Joel Embiid is the only player that can resuscitate the 76ers

Following a sluggish start after first returning, Joel Embiid has begun to turn things around. The Philadelphia 76ers being the 11th seed, don’t make it seem as so. But they only rose higher due to a fabulous December. The franchise won 9 of their 12 games. Six of those wins came in the seven games that Embiid played. It was his highest tally in any month of the season so far.

And it was also his most productive. The MVP-level dominance is beginning to come to the surface. Embiid averaged 26 points while shooting 40% from three in December. Furthermore, with him regularly out on the floor, the teams’ offense looked fluent. They averaged the most points since the beginning of the season.

Now with almost the mid-way point of the season approaching, Joel Embiid holds the key for the 76ers.

With him playing, the Sixers hold a 7-6 record thus far. It doesn’t replicate the results from previous seasons. However, with Paul George also regularly on the sidelines, things have worsened for the franchise. They have only won a third of the 21 games that The Process has had to sit out. Hence, the time for patience looks to be running out for the organization.

The purpose behind George’s arrival was for the team to be prepared for the rigorous postseason. With his age in mind, every season with PG13, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are expected to have a championship barrier. That brings the Philadelphia 76ers to this juncture. Even though Embiid admitted he would never play another back-to-back in his entire career, there may not be much of a choice.

If Joel Embiid wishes to see himself and the 76ers playing during the postseason, his participation is the biggest factor.