USA Today via Reuters
Doc Rivers will return as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers next season. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Doc Rivers will return as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers next season. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers were handed a major blow in their quest for the NBA title. Their best player and leader Joel Embiid has been ruled out indefinitely ahead of their second-round matchup against the Miami Heat. This is a huge setback for the Sixers who were one of the favorites to win it all. And the fans are blaming Doc Rivers for this as well.
The reason why Doc is being targeted is that Embiid suffered this injury late in the fourth quarter. And the Sixers were up 29. The game and the series were over by then and there was no reason for Embiid to stay in the game. But Doc refused to take him out of the floor and Embiid suffered an orbital fracture.
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There is no timetable for his return but he is out of Game 1 for sure. And now the onus will fall on James Harden and the others to step up in Embiid’s absence.
NBA fans troll Doc Rivers after Joel Embiid is out indefinitely
The NBA fans were livid with the news of Embiid’s injury. They blasted Doc for keeping him in the game for so long. They also mocked him for blowing a series even before it started. Here are the best reactions:
Doc Rivers choked without blowing a lead this time.
Hall of Fame stuff. pic.twitter.com/mthrupR7hs
— 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙗𝙝 ⁶𓅓 (@OVOLakeShow) April 30, 2022
Embiid should probably have been out of the game but that is not a natural move by Siakam either. Siakam gets away with a lot more push offs and elbows than he probably should
— JL (@TheyCallMeJL_94) April 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/Waka_Flockamoto/status/1520233373154746368?s=20&t=wsCZP51sTE36qIjcw4YogQ
https://twitter.com/aabhifr/status/1520204945542238208?s=20&t=wsCZP51sTE36qIjcw4YogQ
https://twitter.com/DaveNotSoMelo/status/1520205274723848192?s=20&t=wsCZP51sTE36qIjcw4YogQ
Ong, all time L coaching decision
— James (@James30545) April 30, 2022
Ong, all time L coaching decision
— James (@James30545) April 30, 2022
The Miami Heat are the 1st team in NBA history to advance to conference finals without playing a game in the semis
— vacant/cardinals/bums (@theseeker909) April 30, 2022
Proves why Doc Rivers should not be allowed to coach anymore. There was absolutely NO reason why your starters should be in with 4 min left in a blowout game 😑
— Nineteen Promises (@NineteenPromis1) April 30, 2022
What does this mean for the Sixers?
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Joel Embiid is having an incredible season. He has averaged 30.6 PPG and 11.7 RPG while shooting nearly 50% from the field. He has been downright unstoppable at times. Embiid is the main scorer of the Sixers and their go-to man in the clutch. And with him being out, the Sixers have a huge void to fill.
Now the onus will be on James Harden. Harden has been okay in his Sixers stint so far. He has not shown signs of his usual self but he has been consistent. The Sixers didn’t need him to score that many points but now they definitely need him to step up. He will have the ball in his hand the majority of the time and he will have to go back to being the James Harden we know of.
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With no news of Embiid’s return yet, this will a great chance for Harden to cement his legacy as an all-time great.
