Why The 76ers Need Redick To Stay Healthy For NBA Playoffs

J.J. Redick of the Philadelphia 76ers suffered a cortical and fibula crack in his left leg on January 15th in a game against The Sacremento Kings. While the team has been winning it is no sure thing they will hold onto the 8th and final playoff spot in The Eastern Conference with their best 3 point shooter still not completely healthy even after a feel-good 20 point return to the lineup on 1/31/18  He is still  day to day depending on how he feels before each game. One can now very easily see his importance to the team and their chances of getting into the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2006. 

J.J. Has been a scoring machine in both games he’s started and games in which he’s been the sixth man off the bench. He is averaging 17.2 points per game he adds a three-point element The Sixers lack without him being completely healthy. When 100 percent healthy he has often gone off in games scoring 20 or more points in several contests as he did most recently against The Brooklyn Nets on January 31st. (His first game back since his injuries) The two contests since then have been less than inspiring as he scored only 19 points in two games combined including a measly 6 point performance against the lowly Indiana Pacers on Feb.

He did not look healthy or comfortable against the pacers at all. If anything he looked slow and off point. The Sixers desperately need him to recover, and sitting him for a few more games is likely not an option. Instead, they should reduce his minutes for a few more games to further evaluate his status while keeping their best 3 point option in the game until he has completely recovered.

A completely healthy J.J. Redick could easily jolt the Philadelphia 76ers into a decent playoff run. A gimpy Redick could still help the Sixers limp into the postseason but obviously, you would rather have the later. Limiting his minutes for just a few more games, in my opinion, will most likely provide the latter. While The Sixers could also really use the services of first-rounder Markelle Fultz who’s been injured nearly all season, it is paramount that this team finds a way to help J.J. recover 100 percent from his injuries.

If this roster can somehow get into the playoffs they could actually be a dangerous bunch. With a healthy Joel Embiid, (who also seemingly has health concerns from time to time) and Ben Simmons, it is not hard to envision The Sixers not only making the playoffs for the first time in roughly over a decade but to make a strong run in the playoffs. A completely healthy J.J. Reddick is the key to Their potential playoff success. Which him only under contract until the end of this season this needs to come to fruition for this team to even have a shot at winning in the playoffs.

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