November 24, 2017
The way the Sixers have been playing lately, health (or lack thereof) is the only thing that can stop their roll. Against the Orlando Magic on Saturday, they'll get to deal with another hurdle on the medical front, as Ben Simmons will miss the team's game with swelling in his left elbow.
Here's the full medical update the team shared with reporters on Friday afternoon:
Following the game on Wednesday night against Portland, 76ers guard-forward Ben Simmons began experiencing swelling in his left elbow. After reviewing game footage, the injury appears to have been sustained at the 6:22 mark of the 4th quarter. Simmons is currently being treated for this injury and is out for tomorrow's game against Orland. His return to gameplay will be determined by symptomatic improvements, including swelling and range of motion. He will be re-evaluated on Sunday.
The good news there is the quick turnaround time on the reevaluation. Unlike recent ailments suffered by Markelle Fultz and Justin Anderson, they're circling back in a matter of days rather than waiting several weeks. That implies it might not be that serious.
The bad news? The sequence in which the team says he suffered the injury is very inconclusive.
Sixers say Simmons likely sustained elbow injury at 6:22 mark of the 4th on Wednesday. This is what that sequence looks like. pic.twitter.com/W3VBWo6Qy5
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) November 24, 2017
Simmons leads with his right elbow the whole way as he's posting up, and if Evan Turner swipes at Simmons' left arm on the turnaround, it's nearly impossible to tell from the TV angle. After the play concludes, Simmons does appear to be in some pain, but there's no obvious cause to trace it to. That's not exactly reassuring.
While we wait to learn more about Simmons' ailment one way or another, the Sixers will be forced to play without him for the first time this season. It will have a drastic impact on how they play, especially because they don't have a high-level playmaker a la Markelle Fultz to fall back on in his absence. Their primary bench guards, TJ McConnell and Jerryd Bayless, will now have to assume a much larger responsibility to create offense for their teammates.
That's easier said than done. The Sixers are 9.4 points worse on offense and 4.1 points worse on defense when Simmons hits the bench, and it's hard to put a price on his ability to generate high-quality looks for everyone on the floor. Whether he is hitting guys in transition or tossing soft entry passes for easy dunks, Simmons makes the game much simpler for everyone around him.
By this time Sunday, we should have more clarity on the severity of the issue, and it could very well be in the rearview. Until then, Philadelphia will hold its collective breath.
