The Philadelphia 76ers' injury-ridden woes have come back to haunt them, as a depleted roster was blown out by the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, raising questions about the decision to leave an open roster spot vacant.
The Sixers were without 80% of their projected starting lineup, including Joel Embiid, Paul George, VJ Edgecombe, and Kelly Oubre Jr., plus reserve center Adem Bona. To make matters worse, Trendon Watford suffered a non-contact injury in the first half, leaving the team scrambling for depth.
This latest setback has highlighted the potential issues with having an open roster spot on the team. While it's understandable to leave some flexibility open in case of injuries or other absences, the fact that multiple key players have lengthy histories of missing time due to injury makes it difficult to justify rostering someone without any on-court utility.
The Sixers' 15th and final standard roster spot remaining vacant is a luxury they can ill afford, especially given the team's track record of losing seven of their last 11 games. The fact that there won't be any franchise-altering talent available if they look to fill the void with free agents only adds to the concern.
The injuries, however, are a major issue. Embiid's right knee issue remains day-to-day, while George's ankle sprain is still being evaluated after left knee surgery. Edgecombe's calf tightness has kept him out for two straight games, and Oubre's minutes have been sparse due to his own injury woes.
The team's decision to roster Eric Gordon, a player with limited on-court utility, raises questions about the priorities of the front office. While Gordon's mentorship of young players is invaluable, it's harder to stomach when that comes at the expense of rostering someone who can contribute on the court.
Ultimately, the Sixers' 144-103 loss serves as a reminder that having an open roster spot is not worth the risk. With multiple key players missing time due to injury, the team needs all available bodies to make up for lost minutes and wins.
The Sixers were without 80% of their projected starting lineup, including Joel Embiid, Paul George, VJ Edgecombe, and Kelly Oubre Jr., plus reserve center Adem Bona. To make matters worse, Trendon Watford suffered a non-contact injury in the first half, leaving the team scrambling for depth.
This latest setback has highlighted the potential issues with having an open roster spot on the team. While it's understandable to leave some flexibility open in case of injuries or other absences, the fact that multiple key players have lengthy histories of missing time due to injury makes it difficult to justify rostering someone without any on-court utility.
The Sixers' 15th and final standard roster spot remaining vacant is a luxury they can ill afford, especially given the team's track record of losing seven of their last 11 games. The fact that there won't be any franchise-altering talent available if they look to fill the void with free agents only adds to the concern.
The injuries, however, are a major issue. Embiid's right knee issue remains day-to-day, while George's ankle sprain is still being evaluated after left knee surgery. Edgecombe's calf tightness has kept him out for two straight games, and Oubre's minutes have been sparse due to his own injury woes.
The team's decision to roster Eric Gordon, a player with limited on-court utility, raises questions about the priorities of the front office. While Gordon's mentorship of young players is invaluable, it's harder to stomach when that comes at the expense of rostering someone who can contribute on the court.
Ultimately, the Sixers' 144-103 loss serves as a reminder that having an open roster spot is not worth the risk. With multiple key players missing time due to injury, the team needs all available bodies to make up for lost minutes and wins.
I don't think it's fair to blame the team for leaving an open roster spot vacant, considering they've got some of the most talented players in the league who are dealing with injuries 
. Joel Embiid and Paul George are legends on the court, but their bodies aren't cooperating 
. And let's not forget VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr., who have been through similar struggles 
.
. And what if they didn't leave that spot open? The Sixers would've had to start playing some of their younger guys who aren't even ready for prime time 
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. Teams have been dealing with injuries for years, and it's just part of the game 
. I think the Sixers are trying to be proactive and set themselves up for future success 
. It might not work out in the short term, but that's all we can do 
.
so the sixers are struggling rn & they left an open roster spot... like what r they even thinkin? 
it's like tryin 2 solve a rubik's cube with one hand tied behind ur back. u cant just sit around waitin 4 injuries 2 happen & expect 2 win games. get ur roster right or get out! 
. And now Eric Gordon gets a shot, but what's the point if he can't even contribute on the court? It feels like they're just making things harder for themselves. The 76ers are already struggling, and this just keeps piling on more problems 
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. I mean, they knew Embiid was a risk even before he got injured... but come on, George is still recovering from knee surgery 
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That's just asking for a blowout loss like this one. I think the team needs to reevaluate their roster strategy ASAP. Leaving an open spot vacant just doesn't make sense when you've got so many key players missing time due to injury. It's like they're playing a game of musical chairs, but instead of chairs, it's players! 
can't believe they passed on a real contributor to take some random mentorship gig 