This Extended Absence for Embiid May Actually be Exactly What the Sixers Need

I don't know what it is about playing in prime time but this team just looks completely different when they are on the big stage. Simmons looked like a leader on the floor. He was playing everywhere from point to center. Played great defense.

He was finishing with ease around the rim.

JRich had the quietest 29 I’ve ever seen

Horford played what may have been his best all around game as a Sixer. Not to mention I think we may have found our rim protector off the bench.

The whole team looked like they were playing with a lot more confidence and I think this stretch of games without Embiid may be able to do just that, build confidence for everyone else going forward.

    Embiid is obviously the cornerstone of the offense. Everything revolves around him when he’s on the floor. Which can many times force everyone around him to become complacent and to sit back and let Jo get his. What we saw last night was different. Everyone was playing with an intensity that has been severely lacking in the previous 5 games. Now I’m not going to be a fucking sports talk radio caller and say “Embiid sucks!” “We’re better without him!” “Trade Him” I’m not a fucking idiot. This team will lose more games than they would have in Embiid’s absence. We are a much better team with Embiid on the floor.

There is no doubt in my mind we are going to have a huge let down game against a shitty team because that’s just what we do. However there are so many positives that can come out of this stretch and change up the direction of where this team was headed.

Before the Celtics game, I wrote a blog about how Horford needed to step up in Embiid's absence, and that’s exactly what he did. He was active on defense, Passed extremely well

He made big shots

And even put some bodies on the ground.

Horford did exactly what was expected of him last night and answered a lot of questions that were asked of him. Going forward, I think this is a good game to build off of. Simmons will control the game, Horford will control the paint, and then we just need someone like JRich or Tobi to be an additional scorer. They are now forced to be in a position that they weren't in with Embiid there and it could end up being very valuable come playoff time. We have a tough two game road stint in Dallas and in Indiana. If we can string together a few nice games, we can really start to gain some confidence going forward.

Nothing like hearing a roar of “Boston Sucks” in South Philly.