Joel Embiid’s availability is, at this point, a philosophical question as much as a practical one. So let’s stop treating it as a variable and start treating it as a constant: the Sixers need to be functional without him.
The good news is they can be. The bad news is it requires a level of ball movement and defensive discipline that this roster hasn’t consistently shown. When Tyrese Maxey is running the offense with purpose, when the secondary ball handlers are making quick decisions, and when the defense is switching correctly — this team can play competitive basketball without Embiid.
Here are the four lineup combinations that actually produced positive net ratings in limited sample stretches this season, and why the coaching staff should be leaning into them more aggressively.
