SIxers Chances

For the Sixers to have a chance, Joel Embiid has to dominate. The doctors and therapist have to do all they can to get his thumb ready for game six. That may mean numbing it with lidocaine and seeing how Embiid feels about it during practice. It may mean making the call today to splint and brace more substantial so that he feels more comfortable and is less worried about injuring it further. If they can’t get Embid totally comfortable with going toward the rim ferociously, early, and often in game six, then he wants to sit out along with Harden. As I recall, or at least two occasions when Embiid and Harden were not on the floor, or in the game, the rest of the team surprisingly one game by having career nights. Rivers could tell the rest of the team to just go out and do that again. If they don’t win, no harm no foul, they’re kind of planning on a game seven anyway with Embid feeling better about His thumb.

This is the only way that I can see them avoiding a very embarrassing exit with a game seven loss.

- Dr. Ronald Kamm

Past President, International Society for sports psychiatry