Patrick Beverley implies Joel Embiid’s comeback for 76ers doesn’t guarantee Philadelphia’s Playoffs chances

After being sidelined due to injury, Joel Embiid made his return to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. This was his first game back since aggravating his knee injury on January 30. Despite the setback, the MVP managed to score 24 points in just 29 minutes of play, making 6-of-14 shots, as the Sixers defeated the OKC Thunder 109-105. His comeback couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Sixers have been struggling in the Eastern standings.

Despite having fallen into the play-in tournament seeds, the Sixers’ chances of making the playoffs are greatly helped by Embiid’s return. With Embiid now healthy, some believe the team is once again a contender, while others remain skeptical.

Despite Joel Embiid’s return, his former teammate Patrick Beverley remains skeptical about the Sixers’ chances of advancing in the playoffs. In his podcast “The Pat Bev Show,”Beverley expressed doubt that Embiid’s presence alone can guarantee success in the chaos of the Play-In Tournament.

“The play-in is just one game though. That’s the thing. It is so tough, especially if you never played in it before. I am not discrediting Philly at all. Having Joel in any f**king game makes you one of the top teams having him healthy. But there’s no feel; it’s just one game. It is like March Madness; anything can happen,” Beverley said.

Embiid’s return to the court proved to be beneficial for the Sixers as they secured a win against the Thunder. With six games left in the season, his impressive performance in his comeback game suggests that he will be able to play for the remainder of the season.

Is Joel Embiid the key to the Sixers’ postseason triumph?

Despite being led by Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to surpass the Eastern Conference semifinals in his era due to his frequent struggles with injuries towards the end of the season. However, with a two-month break, Embiid now has the opportunity to recover and return to the court in top form, potentially propelling the Sixers to success in the playoffs.

Despite previously being at the top of the Eastern Conference with Embiid leading the way at an MVP level, the Sixers have since dropped in rankings. As a result, they are now expected to compete in the Play-In Tournament in order to secure a spot in the playoffs. If they do manage to advance, they will face tough opponents such as the Boston Celtics or Milwaukee Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, in the first round.

Currently, the Sixers hold the eighth seed and are 1.5 games behind the seventh-seeded Indiana Pacers. If the season were to end today, they would face the Pacers in Indiana, with the victor moving on to face the Bucks in the first round. In the event of a loss, the Sixers would face the winner of the play-in game between the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls.

Both teams are no strangers to the high stakes of the play-in tournament. To secure a spot in the first round, the Sixers would need Joel Embiid to deliver an impressive performance, but even then, as the eighth seed, they would face an uphill battle against the favored Boston Celtics. While Embiid’s return is a promising development, the road to the Eastern Conference finals, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2001, remains a challenging one for the Sixers.