The NBA’s 2025-26 schedule was simply launched, and the Philadelphia 76ers possible aren’t too happy. The NBA saddled the Sixers with 16 back-to-back video games, which appears like a slap within the face to a group that was decimated by harm.
Sixers star Joel Embiid particularly cannot play each video games in back-to-backs, which implies he’d miss not less than 16 video games subsequent season proper off the bat. In fact, even when Embiid have been wholesome to begin subsequent season, which he possible will not be, he most likely would miss way more than 16 video games.
Nonetheless, it is the precept of the matter. The NBA began the season earlier to scale back back-to-backs. And whereas they’ve gone down lately, with many groups beforehand enjoying 20+ back-to-backs, 16 continues to be far too many.
The NBA did the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid no favors
The Sixers possible would not have the ability to preserve Embiid wholesome even when there have been zero back-to-back video games. Nevertheless, it does end in load administration having so many video games in a brief interval.
If and when Embiid is wholesome, he’ll nonetheless need to deal with back-to-back video games, which can pressure him out of the lineup. Paul George, who will possible additionally miss the beginning of subsequent season, must do the identical.
The league did the 76ers soiled, particularly when taking a look at a five-game stretch from March ninth to seventeenth, after they play six video games in eight nights, together with the final recreation being at Denver.
The NBA set the Philadelphia 76ers up for failure
Do not be stunned if each Embiid and George sit out that recreation, which is bound to attract criticism, simply not on the NBA. Embiid hasn’t performed in Denver in years, and the league scheduling the Sixers the best way they did makes it unlikely that he’ll go well with up.
That’s on the league. The 76ers will have already got their palms full conserving Embiid and George wholesome, and their compact schedule would not assist. That places Philly at a aggressive drawback forward of subsequent season, with them already dealing with plenty of uncertainty.
All advised, the Sixers have been performed no favors by the NBA with the league scheduling for 16 back-to-back video games. With the 76ers having two of essentially the most injury-prone gamers within the NBA, they must try to preserve Embiid and Paul wholesome. However that can be simpler stated than performed with their new schedule.