Joel Embiid's absence vs. Pistons proves status as 76ers' most important player

In that same vein, shooting was also an issue for Philadelphia against Detroit. The Sixers were a dismal 40% from the floor and 26% from beyond the arc on Sunday, only managing to get up 27 long-range attempts total. Too often throughout the night, the ball froze in the hands of either Tyrese Maxey or Jaylen Brown, and the two stars ended the night with a combined 16-of-44 field goal tally.

No one on 76ers to fill the gap

With Embiid sitting, the Sixers' center minutes were shared between James, Dean Wade, and Adem Bona. And while Bona in particular put in some hustle plays late to keep Philadelphia in the game, it was clear that none of them could match the level of output at the five that "The Process" is still capable of producing.

It goes without saying that Embiid is a threatening rim presence on both sides of the ball, with a career 50.0% field goal percentage that would have come in handy in the Motor City, and the big man is usually good for one or two three-pointers on any given night as well.

But beyond his own production, it's the role that Embiid plays within Philadelphia's offense that makes him so critical to the team's success. For instance, the Pistons left Brown open in the corner on several possessions Sunday night, with the ball rarely finding him there; Embiid, particularly given the gravity he commands around the basket, would have been a major drive-and-kick threat against that sort of defensive scheme, especially as he comes off a career-high 5.7 assists per game last season.

It's no big surprise that Nurse is resting Embiid for back-to-backs, and the Sixers should still be expected to find success throughout the regular season even when the former MVP sits. But this early loss to a depleted Pistons team should be a strong warning to Philadelphia that any injury whatsoever to Embiid late in the year could prove catastrophic to the playoff hopes of the NBA's newest superteam.