Embiid should not have been on the floor late in the fourth quarter with the Sixers scoring 29 against Toronto and ready to eliminate the Raptors in Thursday’s 6th game. But Embiid was in the game, suffering a right orbital fracture and concussion while trying to defend Pascal Siakam, and his availability for the Sixers’ Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Miami Heat is in jeopardy. Sixers coach Doc Rivers can defend his three straight defeats when his side took a 3-1 lead. He can not defend Embiid who is on the field with the Sixers leading 119-90 with 3:58 remaining for the fourth quarter. He tried to tell reporters on Saturday: “I’m not upset that he was in. You can make this big if you want. But just look at every team and every game, and their kids are in for about four, three minutes. That’s it. ». Embiid is already experiencing a ligament rupture in his right (sniper) thumb. His health is paramount to the Sixers’ success, and their chance to win the East and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2001 depends on Embiid. Embiid had 33 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two steals, and with four minutes left in the game, Embiid would have to sit on the bench, enjoy the end of a winning streak and prepare for his post-match interview. match. The Sixers led 110-84 with 7:29 remaining in the fourth, and there were plenty of breaks from then until four minutes left to get Ebid out of the game. There is not much lead in the NBA that is safe and the teams in this post-season have overcome deficits of 20 points to win a game. But that was different. The 76ers moved away in the third and led 99-78 with a header in the fourth. They continued to build on this lead and the Raptors, playing without All-Star Fred VanVleet, finished. They had nothing left, and they scored 115-90 with five minutes left, it was clear that the Raptors were not coming back and at least, Rivers should have retreated for Ebid with 4:48 left when Pascal Shiakam lifted the fourth his foul. The story goes on Most who watched the game knew it was over. And for the sake of argument, let’s say the Raptors made a streak at the end of the game and reduced the 25-point lead to 15, if Rivers had removed Embiid from the game, he could have put him back in the game. And if Rivers was worried about taking the lead against the battered Raptors, that’s also worrying. GRIZZLIES ADVANCE: Memphis Holds Another Rally Late to Eliminate Minnesota FULL SCHEDULE: Round 2 races, dates, race times and TV info SPORTS NEWSLETTER: Receive the latest news and analytics in your inbox There is already pressure on the Sixers and Rivers. They have not reached the conference finals since 2001. In the last five seasons, they have lost twice in the first round and three times in the conference semifinals. Philadelphia had an MVP season from Embiid and acquired James Harden on the trade deadline. Even in the deep East, especially at the top of the convention, the Sixers saw a league window open a little more. Now, just close a little more. While the Heat were small favorites to move on, it was expected to be a close, competitive series and no one would be surprised if the Sixers won. Winning the series without Embiid even for a part of it becomes a dramatically more difficult task. During the regular season, the Sixers scored 115.6 points and allowed 107.8 points per 100 possessions with Ebid on the floor. When Embiid was not playing, the Sixers scored 107.3 points and allowed 110.8 points per 100 possessions – a significant change in the net score above 10 points per 100 possessions. This happens when you take one of the top two-way players in the league out of the game. The Sixers are already thin at the back of the pitch, and that gives Heat center Bam Adebayo a chance to be more efficient and flexible in defense. And the situation could have been avoided, too, if Rivers had not had his MVP on the floor in an explosion with more important games ahead. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joel Embiid’s injury could have been avoided and the 76ers could have paid the price