Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has started a strength and conditioning program as he works his way back from an emergency appendectomy. The team announced the update after Monday’s practice, and Embiid remains in Philadelphia, which makes him highly unlikely to play in Tuesday night’s Game 2 against the Boston Celtics.
The timing matters because Philadelphia needs him to change the shape of the series. The Sixers lost Game 1, 123-91, and that result exposed how much the offense depends on Embiid’s presence in the half court.
Embiid’s absence changes the Sixers’ offense
Without Embiid on the floor, Philadelphia had to lean heavily on Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in the first game. That created long stretches of inefficient offense, while Boston was able to focus more defensive attention on Maxey and Paul George.
When Embiid plays, the Sixers gain a clear advantage in isolation and force the Celtics to react differently. Boston does not have the same personnel to handle him one-on-one, and the extra help he draws can open cleaner looks for his teammates.
Philadelphia wants a better response
On Monday, the Sixers held an intense practice and film session to address the problems from Game 1. Coach Nick Nurse said the review was far more detailed than usual, stressing that the team focused on specific errors rather than a broad overview.
“Not today. We were much more specific today,” Nurse said of the film work. The message was clear that Philadelphia expected more competitiveness, especially after a performance the team viewed as disappointing in both effort and execution.
Why Embiid’s return still matters
Embiid played 38 games this season and averaged a little over 26 points per game. After nearly two years of knee issues, he still produced at an All-Star level and, at times, looked close to All-NBA form.
That made his current absence especially frustrating for Philadelphia, which had hoped to manage his workload in the regular season so he could be healthier for the postseason. The Sixers know their path against Boston becomes more realistic only if Embiid is able to return and stay effective, even if that chance depends on the series remaining competitive long enough for his recovery to progress.
