The Philadelphia 76ers currently have a commanding 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series with the Brooklyn Nets, with all signs pointing to Joel Embiid and company either pulling off the sweep or advancing to the second round with little resistance.
Although it has been smooth sailing in this series with the Nets, 76ers head coach Doc Rivers isn’t happy with the foul calls that star players James Harden and Embiid haven’t been getting against Brooklyn.
Rivers expressed his discontent to the media claiming that Harden and Embiid lead the league in missed fouls via Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.
Doc Rivers on officiating of James Harden and Joel Embiid:
“I don’t wanna sound like I’m campaigning, but I am. James and Joel do lead the league in missed calls as far as fouls. They get fouled the most, and that’s not a Sixers stat by the way.”
Asked where that stat is from:… pic.twitter.com/XSY8nfXpzY
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) April 20, 2023
Here are some fan reactions to what Rivers said about the foul calls that the 76ers aren’t getting:
Comical. They live at the line
— Dan Pasqualone (@DPasq15) April 20, 2023
Uhum ,,, pic.twitter.com/XuGHEsD8uV
— Danny (@DannyPelao) April 20, 2023
Ain’t no way Doc lmao
— S Λ M (@ehimgood_) April 20, 2023
This is insane 😂😂😂
— Dan (@danhasaburner) April 20, 2023
Head coaches in the NBA are supposed to stick up for their players and complain when fouls that should be called aren’t called, especially during the playoffs.
This isn’t the first time Rivers has complained or campaigned for foul calls when coaching an NBA team in the postseason, and it certainly won’t be the last.
However, putting this out there during a first-round playoff series that your team is dominating with two players that get to the free-throw line frequently is a bit questionable.
This could be a simple case of boredom for Rivers during a playoff series that already seems over.
The 76ers will almost certainly advance to the second round of the playoffs will relative ease while having a legitimate case to win it all if they can get by the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
NEXT:
Colin Cowherd Makes A Strong Statement About James Harden
