76ers Brace: Joel Embiid Cleared, Paul George Out

Merlin sees ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reporting that the 76ers are deliberately tight-lipped about Joel Embiid and Paul George this offseason because they’re “so scarred from injury setbacks and so cognizant of the venom from fans that, as a defense mechanism, they’ve learned to make no promises and lower expectations.” After a 24-58 season that featured Embiid in just 19 games and George in 41, Shams Charania says George will miss the season opener while Embiid was cleared for Friday’s preseason game vs. Minnesota. Merlin knows the message matters as much as the medical reports. The team’s guarded tone is a protection against hype and backlash; Friday’s preseason showing will be a reality check. If Embiid flashes MVP-level form, hope grows quickly. If he looks limited, the cautious script becomes the season’s theme.