Joel Embiid just got called out again as the losses pile up for the Sixers

The struggling Philadelphia 76ers are still trying to get back on track but injuries have quickly derailed their promising season. At the center of the struggles is superstar Joel Embiid. Thus far, he has only appeared in four games and has struggled when he has played, including settling for jumpers and playing tentatively. 

Then there have been questions about his conduct off the court, with him being suspended three games for having shoved a reporter. He was also called out by fellow star Tyrese Maxey for constantly being late. 

That is a well-known issue involving Embiid and calls into question both his motivation and whether the discombobulated Sixers can get back on the same page. 

The Philadelphia 76ers are running out of time to turn their season around.

At 3-13, it is safe to say that the 76ers' season hangs in the balance and is teetering on the brink of collapse. They currently have the second-worst record in the NBA, a shocking development considering that many expected them to be the second- or third-best team in the Eastern Conference.

If they can just get healthy at the same time, the Sixers can begin to put some wins on the board. Thus far, their big three of Embiid, Maxey, and Paul George have only played one of their first 17 games together. If they can break that trend, then they have a chance to make up ground in the East. 

That is especially true given how only four of the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference have a winning record at the moment. A five-game win streak could easily take them from the second-worst record in the East to being back in the middle of the playoff race. 

Can the Sixers rely on Joel Embiid going forward?

With Embiid already being ruled out for at least one of their 12 remaining back-to-backs, he can only play a maximum of 52 games. That is the best-case scenario but his playing a total of 57 games, including the four he's already played, seems farfetched given his injury history. 

If he can play 50 games and play at or near the MVP-caliber level he's played at over his last four seasons, then the Sixers should be able to win around two-thirds of those games.

Particularly if George and Maxey can also play in those games and all three are healthy come playoff time. In that event, the Sixers should be able to get a decent seed and also build chemistry among their best players.

All in all, while Embiid can't be blamed for his injury problems, his conduct is on him. Fortunately for the Sixers, they still have time to turn things around.