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With two wins in the books already, the Philadelphia 76ers are off to a strong start to the season. Tomorrow, they’ll be looking to keep the momentum going in a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. When fully healthy, the 76ers have one of the best rosters in the NBA, but there’s a chance they may not be full strength for Saturday’s showdown.
In the latest injury report, LeBron James has been marked as questionable due to back injury management, potentially joining Dean Wade (left ankle sprain), Ariel Hukporti (Achilles tendon tear), Tacko Fall (quadriceps sprain), and Dominick Barlow (back stress reaction) on the sidelines.
The good news for Philly is who was not listed on the report: Joel Embiid, who has an extensive injury history. While he’s already stated his intentions to skip the back half of back-to-backs, he’s been perfectly healthy so far this season, playing a combined 67 minutes through the first two games.
Dean Wade has yet to make his debut, but he does seem to be progressing. After suffering an ankle sprain, the seven-year veteran is due back any game now, and his return (whenever it is) will provide another spark off the bench.
Of course, the biggest questions revolve around LeBron James. At 41 years old, it’s no secret that the 76ers plan to manage his workload, especially after being diagnosed with sciatica last summer that cost him the first month of NBA action. He’s been fully recovered for a while now, but his health now requires more careful monitoring to ensure maximum availability.
Since he’s only listed as questionable, chances are still high that LeBron suits up tomorrow, but the 76ers may not need him against a rebuilding Bucks squad. If ruled out, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown are more than enough to pick up the slack, and it would help keep LeBron fresh for the matchup against the Pistons on Sunday.
Whatever the Sixers decide to do, it’s clear what their approach is with LeBron this season. With more than enough talent to not rely on his game, the 76ers are going to take the cautious approach and use any opportunity they can to get him some extra rest during the season. At this point, the only thing that matters to them is the playoffs, which is still a long way off.
Ultimately, we will know soon enough what LeBron’s status is for tomorrow, but he’s already made a strong impression on his new teammates. With averages of 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 block per game on 37.0% shooting, he’s played his role well so far, even if the efficiency hasn’t been there. As the season goes on, we can expect those numbers to rise as he becomes more acclimated to his new surroundings.
As far as tomorrow goes, LeBron is likely to play for the 76ers, but there’s no way to know for sure. Fortunately, with a star-studded cast, the Sixers can afford to be somewhat short-handed, especially if it means preserving one of their most essential players.
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