By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)
PROCESSING……….. pic.twitter.com/j2sMA0RfHx
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) October 9, 2016
Right now, the only thing better for Philadelphia 76ers than seeing Joel Embiid play would be even more Joel Embiid. With the Sixers set to take on Memphis in their fourth preseason game Tuesday night, it looked for a brief moment like that wish might come true.
Joel Embiid thinks he's going to be bumped up to a 15-minute restriction for the SIXERS' next game.
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) October 10, 2016
Alas, Embiid got a little ahead of himself, as the team quickly reiterated that the rookie center would still be on a 12-minute restriction against the Grizzlies. However, head coach Brett Brown later stated that the current plan is for Embiid to be playing 20-24 minutes at the start of the regular season.
With the opener against the Thunder just over two weeks away, we should see a ramp up in activity for Embiid fairly soon, maybe as early as Thursday night against the Wizards. Until then, we’ll have to enjoy seeing him matched up against one of the better centers in the league in Marc Gasol, with hopefully a couple more highlights like this one thrown in the mix.
OK JOJO 😳 https://t.co/PAuc9pB1Jz
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 8, 2016
While Embiid will be dropping jaws down in Memphis, the other half of the Sixers’ rookie frontcourt will be sitting out the contest. Brett Brown mentioned Dario Saric will be given the game off for rest purposes, citing how much Saric has played this summer between games with his international club and the Olympics.
After starting the preseason with two outstanding performances in which he averaged 12 points in just 18 minutes per game, Saric shot just 1-7 for 4 points Saturday night against the Cavaliers. Hopefully, the added bit of rest helps refresh the team’s presumptive starting power forward.
As for the rest of the crew for Philadelphia, Gerald Henderson will again be on a 12-minute restriction, while Jerryd Bayless, Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and Cat Barber are all likely to miss another game to due their myriad of injuries.
For Memphis, Mike Conley sat out the Grizzlies’ last preseason game with minor hip tightness. Even if he returns to action in a limited capacity, expect to see plenty of first-round pick Wade Baldwin. Starting wings Chandler Parsons (knee surgery) and Tony Allen (knee injury) have yet to play this preseason and will both be out again Tuesday.
The game tips off at 8:00pm est; sadly, it is not televised in the Philadelphia area so fans will have to try and live vicariously through the random vines that make their way onto twitter throughout the evening.
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