Philadelphia 76ers: 2017-18 NBA season preview

Storylines 1: Can Joel Embiid stay healthy?

The impact Embiid had on the Sixers in just 31 games last season was profound. In fact, there had been few rookies in recent memory who had the same level of influence on their team’s success.

But therein lies the problem — Embiid played in just 31 games, after missing his first two seasons in the league with foot issues.

When healthy, Embiid’s footprint on the Sixers’ success was plain to see, most notably on the defensive end of the court. While Embiid was on the floor, the Sixers had a defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 99.1, which would’ve ranked first overall. But when he was off the court up until sustaining his season-ending knee injury, the Sixers’ defensive rating ballooned to 108.1, good for 25th in the league.

And this was all while Embiid was playing on a minutes restriction due to his two-year absence from the game. Over the course of the season, Embiid played 30 or minutes in a game on just one occasion, averaging 25.4 minutes per game overall.

One of Embiid’s most impactful games of his rookie campaign was his last game for the season on Jan. 27 against the Houston Rockets. In 28 minutes, Embiid notched 32 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.

In promising news, Embiid was recently cleared for half-court 5-on-5, putting him that much closer to being a full participant in practice again.

With the season creeping closer, the Sixers’ medical staff and front office will be doing everything possible to ensure Embiid’s return to the court is as smooth and seamless as possible.