The Philadelphia 76ers’ Conference Finals drought stretches back to the Allen Iverson-led 2001 run: a 25-year gap that has shifted from an odd statistic to a franchise-defining scar. Across that span, the Sixers have tried different stars, such as Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, and James Harden, and yet the Second Round ceiling has held. Now, their hopes rest squarely on the shoulders and psyche of Joel Embiid.

This offseason, the conversation has shifted from just when he’ll be on the floor to how he’ll get there consistently. His rhythm has often been disrupted after the last few years of injury-riddled regular season, leaving coaches and teammates guessing whether he’d be available. The team has been built to orbit around his dominant interior presence, but that orbit wobbles when the cent

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