Doc Rivers gives update on Isaiah Joe, Sixers after round of testing
The Philadelphia 76ers are getting set to take on the Detroit Pistons on Thursday to begin a quick two-game road trip, but they ran into a bit of trouble when they got hit with more adversity off the floor.
Young guard Isaiah Joe entered the league’s health and safety protocols which leaves the Sixers very thin at the wing positions with the team also missing Danny Green to left hamstring tightness. Joe is the second Sixer to enter the protocols as he joins Tobias Harris who tested positive for COVID-19.
“He’s doing good,” said coach Doc Rivers of Joe. “It’s only his first day so I wouldn’t know yet, but he’s doing OK.”
Joe entering the protocols triggered the entire Sixers team to go get tested and that meant a lot of anxious moments for some, but for the team itself, they are used to it at this point.
“We get tested every once in a while anyway,” said Rivers. “We’re so used to this protocol. It’s not that unsettling honestly. If this was something we’ve never done, it would be a big deal, I guess. The only big deal is we have players that have it and that’s our concern.”
The “it” that Rivers is referring to is presumably the virus as Harris and Joe continue to try and get themselves better and moving forward again.
The Sixers dealt with this often in the 2020-21 season. Seth Curry tested positive for the virus in January which then triggered a lot of the team to enter the protocols and they had to move forward with only seven or even eight players available. There was even a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road that was postponed due to the Sixers not having enough players.
“Life happens,” Rivers continued. “I tell our guys that all the time. You don’t get everything you want all the time. Things don’t always go exactly the way they’re planned, but we talk about it a lot, life still goes on. You still gotta do your job and you gotta do your job well. We don’t wanna ever use any of that as an excuse. We will not. That’s the way we work, that’s how I’ve always worked.”
To Rivers’ point, the Sixers have business to focus on. They have to get ready to continue to grow as a team and get set to take on a lowly Pistons squad on Thursday to begin a quick two-game road trip.
“You still feel for the people who are going through it and it is not normal,” Rivers finished. “These last two years have not been normal, but it’s not normal for everyone. Not just basketball players. Everyone in all walks of life and we’re just part of it.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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