The Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up for their playoff opener against the Boston Celtics without star center Joel Embiid, who underwent an appendectomy on April 9. In his absence, Dominick Barlow, who has transitioned from a two-way contract to a standard contract, is expected to step up. During the regular season, Barlow averaged 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds over 71 games, including 59 starts. He acknowledges the challenge of filling Embiid's shoes but draws confidence from the team's previous performances without their star player. Barlow noted that while the intensity of the playoffs will be higher, the team has a strategy in place based on their earlier games. He aims to improve his decisiveness on the court, understanding that defenses will adjust without Embiid drawing double teams. Barlow is committed to contributing effectively to help the 76ers succeed in this critical series.