MVP players need to step up when the season is on the line. Joel Embiid’s disappointing game 7 against the Boston Celtics cost the Philadelphia 76ers their first Eastern Conference appearance since 2001. Philadelphia had a clear path to the Eastern Conference Championship last year, but somehow lost game 6 and game 7 for a familiar early exit. It was a heartbreaking loss that shined the spotlight on Doc River’s below par playoff record over the years.
Less than a year later, Rivers is back in Philadelphia to face the team he coached for three seasons. Now with the Milwaukee Bucks, his team is set preparing to meet the 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.
Prior to the game, the veteran coach addressed last year’s disappointing and anticlimactic playoff elimination.
“I thought game 6 was our game,” said Rivers. “I didn’t think Joel got the ball enough. Trust me, it was for him to get it and he didn’t get it.”
Rivers seemed to deflect the blame onto his former players for not finding Joel Embiid during a critical stage of the series. He also questioned Embiid’s healthy during game 6 and 7.
“I don’t know how healthy he was,” added Rivers
Asked about Games 6 and 7 from last year’s Sixers-Celtics playoff series, Doc Rivers says that Game 6 was Philly’s chance but that Joel Embiid didn’t get the ball enough.
“It was for him to get it, and he didn’t get it. I don’t know how healthy he was.” pic.twitter.com/uzocAtoOPS
— Sam DiGiovanni (@BySamDiGiovanni) February 25, 2024
The game plan was for Embiid to lead the way but the seven-time All-Star was only able to muster 26 points and 15 points in game 6 and 7, respectively. That is significantly lower than the 33.1 points per game he averaged in the regular season in 2023 and the 35.3 he averaged this season before his injury.
The 76ers scored just 174 points in the final two games of the series.
It has been a difficult year for the 76ers who have struggled without Embiid in the lineup. The team is currently 33-23 and will be looking for a win against their former coach on Sunday to get back on the right path.
