Philadelphia 76ers: 3 goals for Joel Embiid in 2018-19

By Derek Hryn | Aug 27, 2018

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 30: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2018 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images /

3. Stay healthy

Despite the major impact that Embiid has delivered to the 76ers, he has played in only 94 career games since being drafted. In those games, his career averages are 22.0 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, while shooting 47.8 percent from the field.

He spent many games on the bench last year, especially toward the end of the season when the team was gunning for one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. He also missed the beginning of the first round series against the Miami Heat, while he was still making a recovery from a facial contusion injury he suffered in late March.

Though he did will his team back to ultimately win the series, he wasn’t 100 percent, due to both the aforementioned injury and the irritating protective mask he had to wear. It carried on into the following series against the Boston Celtics, where it quickly and clearly put Philly at a disadvantage.

If the Sixers are to reach their ceiling in 2018-19, it starts with Embiid putting together an even healthier season.