The Philadelphia 76ers finally have superstar center Joel Embiid back on the floor, and the team is starting to resemble the squad that dominated the competition in the Eastern Conference earlier in the season.
Without Embiid, the 76ers have fallen out of the playoff picture in the East and will have to get through the Play-In Tournament in order to make it to the NBA playoffs, which is something that was totally unexpected after how well they were playing with their superstar leading the way.
However, the team can now get back to form and it appears to be doing just that with three straight wins, but the question remains whether this team can compete with the best of the best in the East during the upcoming postseason.
ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins thinks the 76ers, with Embiid back in the fold, can’t contend with the Milwaukee Bucks or the Boston Celtics in the playoffs, via NBA on ESPN.
“He’s playing at about 75-80%, and when you think about the matchups and the road for him to get to the conference finals, he’s going to have to go against the likes of a Giannis Antetokounmpo and maybe the Boston Celtics, and I just don’t see them beating those particular teams to get to the Eastern Conference Finals,” Perkins said.
Can Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid get the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Finals? @zachlowe_NBA and @kendrickperkins share their thoughts. pic.twitter.com/c7Mj6UGjXw
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 5, 2024
Although Perkins likely has a point here, especially with the Celtics looking unbeatable and the Bucks being a legitimate force to be reckoned with, anything can happen in the playoffs, which the Miami Heat proved last season.
Philadelphia could get hot to finish the regular season and become a tough team to beat in a seven-game series as long as Embiid can stay healthy and productive, making for an interesting postseason in the East.
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