That is because the Sixers haven't been whole for many games to begin the season. Saturday's contest with the Detroit Pistons will be their 18th game of the season and the intended Big 3 of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George have played a grand total of six minutes together. That number won't change with Embiid out against the Pistons.

Sitting at 3-13 on the season after Sunday night's blowout home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Sixers continue to desperately search for answers as a season they entered with so much optimism has turned into a total catastrophe. Predictably, the tenor of Sixers discourse around these parts has taken a turn for the worse.

Joel Embiid will miss his fourth consecutive game on Saturday at the Detroit Pistons, because of left knee injury management and personal reasons. The better news for the Sixers: Paul George (left knee bone bruise) was a full participant in practice Friday,