Embiid 'can't really see' when wearing custom mask

To protect against reinjury of his surgically repaired orbital bone, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been playing in a custom-designed protective face mask that features built-in goggles.

The contraption has done its job - Embiid has gotten whacked in the face multiple times with no further damage done - but it's also caused some problems.

"With the goggles and everything, I can't really see," Embiid told reporters after shootaround Monday, according to ESPN's Ian Begley.

Embiid, who returned from the orbital fracture to play in the final three games (all wins) of the Sixers' first-round series against the Miami Heat, said the goggles keep fogging up.

His words confirmed what his body language already suggested about his distaste for the mask. Whether he's been looking at it with disgust, tossing it on the floor, or "forgetting" to put it on before re-entering the game, Embiid hasn't hidden his impatience.

"I try not to, but sometimes it is (frustrating)," Embiid said. "But like I said before, that's the only way I can be on the court, so I gotta (wear) it."

The impaired vision hasn't seemed to hamper Embiid at all at the defensive end, where his presence at the rim completely stymied the Heat. Offensively, however, he was a bit ragged, and shot just 41.7 percent from the field in the three games.

Embiid is scheduled to be re-examined by team doctors in about two weeks, when he hopes he'll be cleared to play without the mask. If the Sixers are still alive by then, it'll be because they beat the Boston Celtics to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. Their second-round series tips off Monday night.