Doc Rivers explains how Sixers found success without Joel Embiid
The Philadelphia 76ers have been able to win games recently despite not being able to have Joel Embiid on the floor since March 12 with a bone bruise. The Sixers are 5-1 since the big fella went down and the one loss was when in overtime to the Milwaukee Bucks.
This success without Embiid was not there in the past and it was not there even earlier in the season. Philadelphia struggled without the MVP candidate even in the early portion of the season.
So, what has changed between now and then?
“I don’t think we were that good, honestly,” laughed coach Doc Rivers. “We were still becoming a team. We were still trying to find ourselves and our roles and the way to play.”
Now that they have figured that out, Philadelphia has been able to find success even when Ben Simmons is out along with Embiid. Philadelphia has also been 3-0 since sharpshooter Seth Curry suffered a left ankle sprain in the loss to the Bucks on March 17.
“We talked about it a lot too that we’re going to have games without Joel and without Ben, we have to win without both and, don’t forget Seth,” Rivers continued. “With the schedule the way it is, we just have to be ready to play with whatever and whoever is playing.”
There also needs to be a belief that a team can win without their best players. They are not going to be playing at a high level every time and the rest of the team will have to step up. They have done so recently.
“I don’t think our guys accepted that early in the year,” the coach continued. “I think they really believed if Joel or Ben didn’t play, we didn’t win. I don’t think they believe that anymore. I think they think they can still win games and that’s nice, they’re proving it.”
Their next challenge will come on Thursday when they continue the road trip at Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Lakers.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
