After a brutal loss to one of the NBA’s worst teams, Doc Rivers spoke candidly about his team in the post-game press conference.
When asked about the struggles of the bench unit, Doc pointed the finger at James Harden instead, putting a spotlight on the star guard’s shooting performance.
“They didn’t struggle, they didn’t get a lot of shots in their defense, in that stretch it was more James than them. Just a tough night.”
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Those are harsh words from Doc, but he’s not entirely wrong. Harden shot 4 for 15 from the field (26.7%) and finished with just 18 points on the night.
But many are criticizing the legendary coach for publicly calling out Harden like that.
The last time he did so, it led to a months-long dispute with Ben Simmons, who cut all ties with Rivers after he called him out in the 2021 playoffs.
“Simmons, for example, has not cut off everybody in the organization, as has been suggested by several people in the know,” Philly Voice’s Kyle Neubeck wrote. “Teammates of his have said otherwise, and one of the team’s photographers makes constant appearances with or around Simmons on the west coast. That is not to say everything is hunky-dory, or that the stakes of this offseason aren’t clear to both sides. The relationship between Simmons and Doc Rivers, it’s worth noting, suffered significant damage that some believe is irreparable, though the Sixers would tell you when pressed on this they believe things can be worked out and fences can be mended.”
Obviously, Harden isn’t going to demand a trade any time soon. He’s on his third team in less than three years. This stint has to come with some success before he thinks about moving on.
Still, Doc’s bizarre chats with the media could get him into some serious trouble, especially if the Beard takes offense.
For now, all they can do is try their best to figure things out before the start of the postseason.
