OKC Thunder face reeling Philadelphia 76ers – game preview

Keys to the game:

Stopping Joel Embiid:

The question of whether the acrid taste left in Embiid’s mouth from May 12th provided the fuel for his offseason workouts seemed to be answered early this season based on how he arrived at camp.  Poor conditioning and health issues have plagued the 25-year old throughout his career. To wit, in three seasons he’s yet to play more than 64 games.

Last season he suffered from knee tendinitis and with his previous foot injuries it limited him for the types of methods he could utilize for conditioning to trim down.  This season will be a harbinger of things to come if he runs into injury issues.

Embiid stated he planned to play the most games ever and is laser-focused on getting past the stage he reached last postseason. To date, he’s sat seven times.  When he’s on the floor there aren’t many who can stop him and now with one of those players (Al Horford) as his teammate, the defensive stoppers for the Cameroonian around the association are few and far between.

To say Steven Adams will have his hands full is the understatement of the year. The prospect of Nerlens Noel not being able to go (twisted his ankle in the third quarter of Cavaliers game) is daunting given the size of the entire 76ers roster.

In the Christmas Day match (which was the last time the 76ers won) the big man and his squad easily dispatched of the Bucks. It proved if Embiid can stay healthy and maintain his conditioning Giannis Antetokounmpo has a true Eastern MVP opponent (until Durant returns at least).

Through 30 games the big man is posting 23.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks.