Did Doc Rivers simply throw James Harden below the bus?
The 76ers suffered a brutal 102-94 highway loss to the lowly Pistons Thursday, scoring solely 15 factors within the fourth quarter and blowing a late lead. Within the sport. Philadelphia’s bench was outscored 39-8 by Detroit’s — however when Sixers head coach Doc Rivers was requested about that group’s struggles, he went in a special path.
“They didn’t wrestle, they didn’t get a variety of photographs, of their protection,” Rivers stated. “I feel in that stretch, it was extra James [Harden] than them. Only a powerful evening.”
One may interpret this quote in two other ways. Instantly after, many assumed Rivers was ripping Harden, who admittedly struggled in Thursday’s loss. He shot 4-of-15 from the sphere and 2-of-9 from deep, ending with 18 factors.
Nevertheless, as Crossing Broad identified, maybe the feedback have been much less pointed than initially thought. Harden was working the second unit for a lot of its time on the courtroom, and took a majority of the shot makes an attempt.
In reality, the Philly bench took solely 12 photographs mixed, hitting three of them. As compared, the Detroit bench took 27 photographs (hitting a powerful 59 p.c). So the 39-8 scoring distinction could also be an unfair level of competition.
Nonetheless, it's notable that Rivers was prepared to name Harden out by identify. The guard has been on the crew since its February commerce with the Nets, which despatched Ben Simmons to Brooklyn in return. Harden has largely performed as much as expectations, although he has shot under 40 p.c within the month of March.
The Sixers at present sit within the fourth seed in East, one sport again of the surging Celtics.
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