There is no mystical realm in which Joel Embiid is not the starting center for the Philadelphia 76ers when he is available. His dominance on the floor and improved mobility have provided Philly fans with hope that a deep run in the postseason is still plausible. However, head coach Nick Nurse's inability to confirm who Embiid's backup will be could affect the team's effectiveness if their star center, again, suffers a long-term injury.
In the 76ers' most recent 125-116 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks, the athletic sophomore Adem Bona was handed a prominent role in the rotation, clocking up 29 minutes -- 10 more minutes than his fellow center Andre Drummond.