Doc Rivers Discusses How His Team Has Overcome Recent Injuries
The Sixers have pulled off an impressive stretch where they continue to win games on limited rest and without many of their starters. That carried into last night where they beat the Hawks in the second game of a back-to-back without James Harden or Tyrese Maxey. And to discuss this run, and the Sixers overcoming these issues, Head Coach Doc Rivers joined The Anthony Gargano Show. Doc Rivers and Anthony discussed overcoming those injuries, the great play from Joel Embiid, and more. Here is some of what Doc Rivers had to say.
On winning despite the injuries…
“It was. Both teams are on a back to back obviously. Just with us and all the injuries and still winning games. If you took the 3 best scorers off of any team, and you keep winning, that says a lot about our team. A lot about our character. And then last night, we needed Joel. It was huge for him to come back last night. And to perform to way he performed in the 4th quarter was huge for us.”
On Joel Embiid Closing Out Games…
“When I got this job, one of the first things I told Joel was our big step is you becoming a closer. Its going to take a while. You have to get comfortable in it, develop go to moves. If you look from two years ago to now, you can see it. He is closing games, getting to the spots that he wants to get to. He’s picking to drives, shoot, and post. Making plays with the pass. That is what closers do. We forget how young he is still. And now he is doing that. Its big for us now. But it will be huge for us later.”
On Joel Embiid Getting Everyone Else Involved in the Game…
“I think the other guys have shown they can score. If we play the right way and play with the right movement. What I loved about Joel last night was he saw how the team was moving the ball and playing at a really good pace. And you could see from the beginning it was going to be a slug fest. But what Joel tried to do was get everyone involved. I remember in the middle of the 1st quarter I said I know what you are doing, but it ok for you to get involved too big fella… He was really focused on getting Shake going, and keeping Tobias going. Because he knows the better that they play, the easier it is for him.”
You can listen to the full interview with Doc Rivers below…
