“There is a lot more work to do. You guys deserve a championship and I think we’re just getting started!” After signing a 3-year, $193 million contract extension, Joel Embiid highlighted the expectations he held for the ongoing season. Three months since he made that statement, and the condition of the Philadelphia 76ers is as worse as it could get. While they don’t have the worst record out of all other NBA franchises this season, a 10-17 win record still places them quite low on the Points table. A major reason behind these many losses has been Joel Embiid’s continuous absences, brought on by his injury concerns. As the player recently returned to the court after a long gap, the question that now needs answering is whether he will stay consistent with his appearances or not.

The recent Philadelphia 76ers Injury Report brought good news on that front. After all, Joel Embiid’s name is nowhere to be found on the list. Therefore, unless an emergency occurs, the Center is set to appear during the upcoming Christmas Day matchup against the Boston Celtics. The same also goes for Paul George, who is absent from the report too.

Unfortunately, this does not mean that the Philadelphia 76ers have avoided injury concerns completely. Power Forward Keyton Martin Jr. recently got an MRI conducted. The same revealed that he had sustained a stress reaction in his left foot. According to reports, the player will next be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. Till then, the 76ers will miss out on a main starter. Eric Gordon also recently joined the report, as he recently underwent surgery on the right side of his mouth. However, while he was declared ‘OUT’ for the matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, his status has shifted to ‘Probable’ for the upcoming game.

Meanwhile, after leaving the Spurs game early due to a left great toe contusion, Andre Drummond is now listed as ‘Questionable’. Fortunately, as long as Joel Embiid carries the game, Drummond may not be missed that much. Meanwhile, having undergone surgery to treat his lateral meniscus tear, Jared McCain is set to be “OUT” probably for the remainder of the season.

Knee issues, along with a brief Illness period, caused Joel Embiid to miss out on the majority of the games during the ongoing season. That is not even an exaggeration. Out of the 27 games that the Philadelphia 76ers have played this season, the Center has participated in only 8 of them! After weeks of absence, the player returned over two weeks ago to take on the Chicago Bulls. His 31-point contribution helped the team to secure their 4th win in 5 games. In the immediate next game, however, the coach limited Embiid’s on-court minutes down to just 17. Later, it was reported that Embiid had sustained a sinus fracture. Fortunately, now his injury troubles seem to be behind him. At least for now.

Paul George, who plays his first season with the Philadelphia 76ers after having spent 14 years with other teams, also had his fair share of injury concerns. From Bone Bruise to Left Knee Hyperextensions, his absence during crucial games also may have played a role in the 76ers’ abysmal win record. Now, even his injury concerns seem to be behind him, for the time being. With both scorers present to take on the Boston Celtics, the 76ers may go into the game with some hope. Having lost the past 3 games against Jayson Tatum and co, Embiid’s franchise will have to put their best foot forward.

Speaking of the Boston Celtics, their injury report contains more names now than it did earlier. Sam Hauser, who was the sole occupant on the list for the previous Celtics-Magic game, is now healthy enough to no longer be present on the report. Instead, it now contains the names of Jayson Tatum (illness), Derrick White (right hamstring tightness), and Jrue Holiday (right shoulder impingement). All three stars are listed as ‘Questionable’. Therefore, the odds for the Boston Celtics may be lower, going into the Christmas Day game.

In light of these updates, both teams will have to make adjustments to their starting lineup.

What will the starting lineup and depth chart for the 76ers-Celtics game look like?

Given the changes in the Philadelphia 76ers squad, their starting lineup may look something like this:

Similarly, given the updates for the Boston Celtics, their starting lineup may look like this:

The Philadelphia 76ers or the Boston Celtics? Who will you be rooting for? Let us know in the comments section below.