Can Sixers escape from the clutches of the injury bug?

Today, the Sixers announced that Joel Embiid will miss the next two games, which are against the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets due to a left mid-foot sprain. He will be reevaluated after those two games and could possibly miss more. Embiid injured his foot during the 112-109 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves when he collided with Georges Niang. Many thought Embiid had suffered a major injury, but he stayed and finished the game as the Sixers fought back from down 20 points.

Currently, it looks as though Joel Embiid avoided a major injury but he joins a long injury report for the 76ers. He joins James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Furkan Korkmaz, Jaden Springer, and Tobias Harris who all are currently out with different injuries. Can the 76ers tread water until Joel Embiid or James Harden returns? What will the rotation look like? Who has to step up?

Can the 76ers tread water until Embiid or Harden returns?

The 76ers have won games without Embiid in the lineup but James Harden was available. They have also won some games recently without James Harden in the lineup but Embiid was available. Without your two cornerstones and rising star Tyrese Maxey, this team may struggle mightily. If the team doesn’t have Tobias Harris available because of his sore left hip, it gets even worse for the Sixers. If Embiid is only out two games, they could possibly go 1-1 against the Nets and Hornets. If he and Tobias Harris can return, this team can tread water until the return of James Harden, which should happen in about two weeks. Their next eight games include matchups against the Nets, Hornets, Magic (twice), Hawks, Cavs, Grizzlies, and Rockets. Best case scenario for this team would be to go 4-4 in the next eight games, but if Embiid is out longer than two games, they will be hard-pressed for wins.

What will the rotation look like without Joel Embiid?

If Tobias Harris can return from the injured list, the rotation will look a little better but they would need to pay perfect to get wins without Joel Embiid. The team will have to rely on Shake Milton, De’Anthony Melton and Georges Niang for much of the offensive scoring.

Rotation Without Tobias Harris

Shake Milton
De’Anthony Melton
Daniel House Jr.
PJ Tucker
Montrezl Harrell

Matisse Thybulle
Georges Niang
Paul Reed
Julian Champagnie

Rotation With Tobias Harris

Shake Milton
De’Anthony Melton
Tobias Harris
PJ Tucker
Montrezl Harrell

Daniel House Jr.
Matisse Thybulle
Georges Niang
Paul Reed

Who will step up?

If Tobias Harris is healthy, it is obvious that he would need to step and shoulder the scoring load. If Harris isn’t healthy, Shake Milton and De’Anthony will have to shoulder the scoring load. Both have shown some flashes of being able to do it with his 27-point performance on Saturday night. Melton has experience stepping out when starters are out as he routinely started when Ja Morant, DesmondBane, or Dillon Brooks was out of the lineup. The Sixers will also lean heavily on Georges Niang to stay hot from three-point range to provide the spacing the team needs for the guards to drive the lane.

Ultimately this is not the position that the Sixers want to be in, but there are 66 games to go with a chance to right the ship once they get healthy.

AP Photo/Matt Slocum