The Philadelphia 76ers have been without center Andrew Bynum for the entire season. Hopefully, the team can also survive Thaddeus Young missing the next several weeks.

From the team's official Twitter account:

Interestingly enough, this means the team could potentially get Young healthy around the same time as Bynum finally makes his debut for the team.

Young has been a bright spot for the Sixers this year, averaging 14.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. In the three games before his injury, he was averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per contest.

He leads the team in rebounding and is second in scoring, behind only Jrue Holiday.

His absence will be felt for a Philadelphia team that is a disappointing 21-26 this season and has potentially salvaged the season with its current three-game winning streak. January was not kind to the team, as the Sixers limped to a 5-9 record in the month.

Since December, the Sixers are 11-20.

Losing Young for the next three weeks could put the Sixers' playoff hopes in some jeopardy. They are currently ninth in the standings and three games behind the Boston Celtics for the final playoff berth.

It might be too early to hit the panic button—we haven't even hit the All-Star break—but the Sixers play the Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls in the next three weeks.

The team cannot afford an extended losing streak. When Young and, his knees permitting, Bynum return to action, the Sixers must be within striking distance of the playoff picture.

A three-week injury isn't normally cause for concern, but at this juncture of the season, Young's absence is about the worst thing that could have happened for the Sixers. We'll find out whether the Sixers are truly contenders or pretenders before March even rolls around.