Capture the Flagg: Joel Embiid is back to save the 76ers from what could have been a great tank

I want you to close your eyes for a second and imagine the Philadelphia 76ers playing the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals (difficult, I know). And they're on a fast-break sparked by a Joel Embiid block. Paul George gathers the lose ball and kicks it ahead to Tyrese Maxey. Maxey crosses half-court and tosses a lob to the rim. The player on the other end of that lob is none other than Cooper Flagg.

The home crowd goes wild.

Now, open your eyes. As much of a dream as that sounds, it doesn't have to be. If the NBA season ended today, that would be a real possibility for the 2025 Sixers. At 2-7, Philly was tied for the best No. 1 pick lottery odds entering Monday -- a far cry from where they're expected to end up by the end of the season.

All that's likely to change soon, as Joel Embiid makes his long-anticipated season debut Tuesday following injury rehab and a three-game suspension. His presence will lead to more wins -- even as Maxey is now sidelined with a hamstring injury. And more wins will exhaust the Sixers of a first-round pick altogether (it goes to OKC if it falls outside the top six).

But if the injuries continued piling up and the Sixers didn't see improvement, is falling into the Flagg sweepstakes such a bad consolation? High expectations for the season aside, I say no.

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

The latest updates on Cooper Flagg.

11/4: Duke 96, Maine 62

Flagg: 18 points, 6-15 FG, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals (Highlight)

11/8: Duke 100, Army 58

Flagg: 13 points, 5-10 FG (2-4 3-pt FG), 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks (Highlight)

Duke's two games last week ended in blowouts, so we didn't see too much of Flagg in high leverage situations, but he was still outstanding in the minutes he played.

In his debut against Maine, Flagg went for 18 points in 30 minutes. And against Army, he showed off some range, going 2-for-4 from three and stuffing the box sheet in just 25 minutes after cramping issues kept him out most of the second half.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer was not happy about the cramping and said he'd be meeting with Duke's training staff to fix it.

You can certainly understand Scheyer's frustration. If it was a closer game, Duke would have needed Flagg available down the stretch.

Hopefully they were able to come up with a solution, because Flagg and the Blue Devils finally get some top competition as they get set to play No. 19 Kentucky Tuesday in the State Farm Champions Classic. And it sounds like Kentucky's Kerr Kriisa is looking forward to showing what he can do against the freshman phenom.

Tank Ranking

A ranking of the NBA’s best tanks.

1. Toronto Raptors (2-9)

No team has more losses than the Raptors so far, though part of that certainly has to do with a tough early-season schedule. They went 0-4 last week thanks to a West Coast road swing, including games against the Nuggets, Kings, Clippers and Lakers.

2. Utah Jazz (2-7)

After starting the season 0-6, the Jazz finally got their first two wins of the season, which is why they slide a spot here. The wins weren't particularly impressive, but you can't have a winning week and expect to be rewarded.

3. Washington Wizards (2-7)

Once a 2-2 team, the Wizards have dropped five straight games in an apparent embrace of their full tank form. We just need them to keep it up against teams like the Spurs, Hawks and Pistons, all of whom they play this week.

4. Philadelphia 76ers (2-7)

Surprise, surprise. The 76ers have made the tank rankings for the first and probably last time this season, as Joel Embiid is set to return to action this week. But that doesn't change how they've performed up to this point. They've been bad. They're 2-7, and that second win required overtime against the Hornets to snap a five-game losing streak. I expect it'll get better with their full compliment of players on the floor, but they'll be pressing to get back to the top of the standings.

5. New Orleans Pelicans (3-8)

With injuries to Dejounte Murray, Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones, the Pelicans are a shell of the team they were supposed to be this year. And they are free-falling into a tank. Since starting the season 2-0, they've lost eight of nine games including some bad losses to the likes of the Nets, Blazers and Hawks. Welcome to the Flagg game, NO.

Most Fan[tank]stic Moment

This moment of great tanking comes courtesy of a team that could actually be tanking harder if you ask me, the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons went 2-2 last week and added another win on Monday, but I will say it's obvious by the way they suffered those two losses they're fighting hard to rectify that little winning problem.

On Sunday, the Pistons lost to the Houston Rockets after Tobias Harris missed two free throws that could have tied the game with a second left. And though that's the moment that tanked the game, I'll also give you Jalen Green dunking on Cade Cunningham as icing on the cake.

But that wasn't all the Pistons managed to do last week. They also lost a close one to the Charlotte Hornets after completely failing to box out Brandon Miller and giving up a buzzer-beating tip shot.

These are the games bad teams find a way to lose.

Half-Staff: Charlotte Hornets

A quick glance at a team not tanking hard enough.

Considering the Charlotte Hornets have a franchise player already on a max contract, another recent lottery pick who looks like a future star and several other young players in the development stage of their careers, you can argue it's finally time for them to try winning again.

And while I won't argue with you, I will point to their No. 20 net rating as a sign they might not be ready yet.

Sure, they battle -- minus-three average point margin through 10 games -- but something is still missing. And that something could be Cooper Flagg. Just don't tell that to LaMelo Ball and company. They are competing and having fun doing it, and went 2-2 last week, including an inexcusable win over the Pacers.

To be fair to Charlotte, Indiana hasn't exactly played up to the standard it set for itself last season. So maybe that win doesn't look as impressive down the road. But for now, it's bad. Especially considering it gave the Hornets two wins in a row for the first time this season. And they very nearly made it three straight before falling to the Sixers in overtime Sunday.

Relax, Charlotte. There will be plenty of time for winning once you get Flagg on the squad.

The Week Ahead

Cooper Flagg games

Tuesday: Duke vs. 19 Kentucky

Saturday: Duke vs. Wofford

NBA games (to avoid)

Wednesday: Wizards at Spurs

Friday: Pistons at Raptors

Sunday: Pistons at Wizards

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Capture the Flagg: Joel Embiid is back to save the 76ers from what could have been a great tank