PHILADELPHIA — Fans in the arena expressed their discontent vocally, booing James Harden every time he touched the ball. This level of disdain was reminiscent of the jeers that Ben Simmons faced just days prior during a similar homecoming.
On Sunday night, the 76ers invoked nostalgia by donning special uniforms that honored their former home, the Spectrum.
Coincidentally, former players echoed this vibe; Simmons, once thought of as a key player for the team, made his return with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, while Harden, who is now with the Los Angeles Clippers, had his own unceremonious return to Philadelphia on Sunday evening.
Both of these players once promised fans playoff success—possibly even a championship—but their tenures with the Sixers ended in disappointment and mutual relief as issues arose during their time with the franchise.
The ongoing problem for the Sixers is injury woes, particularly knee injuries that have left key players sidelined. Joel Embiid and Paul George, who recently signed contracts totaling $405 million, remained on the bench due to knee injuries: George has a bone bruise in his left knee, while Embiid is dealing with swelling in the same joint.
Adding to the list of absentees was Kyle Lowry, a six-time All-Star, who also missed the game due to a hip strain, instead watching from the sidelines wearing a conspicuous Philadelphia Eagles hat.
“It’s certainly not ideal, and it’s not easy to manage,” said Coach Nick Nurse. He acknowledged the continuous turnover of players in the NBA, expressing disappointment on behalf of the sidelined athletes.
During the game, the public address announcer listed the injuries: “Joel Embiid, Paul George and Kyle Lowry are out,” which elicited a minimal response from the audience, suggesting their weariness with the situation.
Fans and the front office can’t help but ponder the potential heights the franchise could have achieved if either Simmons or Harden had remained positive and healthy while playing alongside Embiid. George was the latest high-profile addition meant to support Embiid in pursuing the team’s first championship since 1983. However, early results have been underwhelming; George has participated in only eight out of sixteen games, while Embiid has been active for just four.
As of Sunday, the 76ers held a dismal record of 3-12, leading to concerns that securing a high draft pick might soon become a more realistic goal than contending for a title.
In light of the difficult circumstances, Nurse has been improvising with his lineup, featuring players like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Guerschon Yabusele while the stands echoed with empty seats.
The silver lining, according to Nurse, is that both Embiid and George are showing signs of improvement. George was able to get some work in on the court recently, and Nurse noted that Embiid’s swelling is “looking better” ahead of further evaluations coming up.
Embiid’s season has already been challenging; he missed the preseason, faced a suspension for an altercation, and has been at odds with fans who are tired of his uncertain playing status.
“As things fluctuate, we’re all trying to maintain some stability,” Nurse remarked. “He has done an admirable job of staying communicative and understanding. He knows we need to solve these issues as a team and is aware that results have not been favorable lately.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, who previously assisted Team USA to a gold medal in Paris, refrained from commenting on Embiid’s health. “I don’t know if he was supposed to be healthy or not,” Lue admitted, “but he helped us win a gold medal, and that’s what matters.”
Interestingly, the Sixers had informed fans ahead of time that Embiid would miss the game against the Clippers, which left some seeking to unload their game tickets at low prices on secondary markets.
Rookie Jared McCain has been a bright spot for those who attended the game, proving to be worth the ticket cost despite the challenges. Meanwhile, the Clippers were coming off a perfect homestand, although they, too, were missing star player Kawhi Leonard.
For the 76ers, adapting to these injuries has become a necessity, as they have done since Embiid’s arrival in 2014. “Almost all the time, we need to try something different,” Nurse concluded.
