Joel Embiid is the Eastern Conference player of the week, but is Doc Rivers playing his stars too many minutes? Out of Site: With Adio Royster and Dave Early.

Happy Monday, Philadelphia 76ers fans!

The Sixers have won two in a row (over the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets, respectively), and things are looking up (?). Assume the casual optimism there, of one of your hosts.

Joel Embiid has been playing magnificently over the last week, and his efforts earned him his second Eastern Conference Player of the Week award after putting up 53 against Charlotte following yet another herculean effort in overtime against the Lakers. Is all of this too much? It may sound like a broken record at this point, but what happened to the load management of the stars?

Embiid and James Harden have logged heavy minutes all season. Recently, Harden’s management has been frustrating after what seems like he was rushed back from a foot injury. In his first game back, he played way more minutes than he probably should have in that loss to the Houston Rockets. If the goal is getting everyone healthy come playoff time, the Sixers coaching staff is failing at that goal.

That’s one item discussed on today’s podcast. After the break, Adio and Dave go around the league to see the shocking rise of the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference – shouldered by the play of a healthy Zion Williamson. It’s also the first time (and not the last) that Bol Bol will be mentioned on this podcast if he continues to play better.

It’s a fun podcast, Sixers fans. Adio and Dave are with you, along with Adio’s nephew, “The Man Cub”, in the background.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices