Panic Meter for Struggling NBA Contenders: Knicks, 76ers, Bucks Down Bad

It’s hard to imagine a worse start to the season for the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that’s now endured injuries to all three of its All-Stars.

Joel Embiid has yet to play in a game due to issues related to his left knee and is currently suspended for shoving a reporter in the locker room. Paul George only recently made his 76ers debut and now Tyrese Maxey will be sidelined for a few weeks due to a hamstring injury.

We may not see the Big 3 of Embiid, George and Maxey actually play together until after Thanksgiving. Even when Embiid and George are healthy, the 76ers will be limiting their time on the court.

“We’re going to be smart about it,” president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “Part of being smart about it is having both Paul and Joel probably not play many back to backs, if any.”

We knew that this core could have issues in a few years as Embiid (30) and George (34) only get older and more expensive. Having their stars miss this many games already together in Year 1 has been nothing short of a nightmare in a 2-7 start to the season.

Outside of the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, the East has been pretty bad, however. The Sixers could win two-or-three games in a row and be right back in the playoff picture.

We’ll withhold complete panic until Embiid returns to the court (projected for Tuesday, Nov. 12th), although this situation has the potential to get real dark real fast for Philly.