The Sixers knew they let an opportunity get away after squandering a lead in Game 6 and then collapsing in the second half of Game 7, writes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. A series with multiple momentum shifts ended in a familiar way for Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, with a disappointing loss that leads to an offseason filled with questions about the future.
The Sixers seemed to seize control of the series a couple of times — first by taking Game 1 in Boston without Joel Embiid, then rallying for a Game 4 victory that was followed by a dominant road win in Game 5. A spot in the Eastern Conference Finals — which would have been the first time the franchise has advanced that far since 2001 — appeared within reach, but they couldn’t find a way to finish the series.
“Up 3-2 against the defending Eastern Conference champs,” Tyrese Maxey said. “We knew after we won Game 5 that it wasn’t going to be easy going home, that it was going to everything we had. We let that opportunity slip between our hands. … It’s really difficult to close out a series, especially when you’re playing a good team like that. A team that’s battle-tested. A team that’s been through it. A team that’s been there before. We had two opportunities to close them out. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it done.”
There’s more on the Sixers:
- Embiid wouldn’t confirm coach Doc Rivers‘ speculation that he tweaked his injured knee again, but he acknowledged that he was “limited” by the LCL sprain that he suffered at the end of the first-round series, Mizell adds. Doctors said the injury would typically sideline a player for four to six weeks, but Embiid came back early to try to add an NBA title to his MVP award. “It’s tough losing, especially this way,” he said. ” … You can be sad about it all you want, but you’ve always got to find ways to be better and keep improving. And that’s what I’m going to do, win or lose.”
- Speculation about the Sixers’ future started immediately, particularly regarding James Harden, who has been rumored for several months to be considering a return to Houston. Harden didn’t mention the Rockets in his post-game session with reporters, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, but he said, “I just want to have a chance to compete.” Harden has a $35.6MM player option for next season that he’s expected to decline.
- Rivers, whose future in Philadelphia is also under speculation, talked about the playoff series and the tenuous nature of coaches during an interview with Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com. He defended Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who was under fire each time Boston lost. “When we were making shots and playing well, that wasn’t on Joe. It was never Joe,” Rivers said. “It’s always that you’ve got to execute and you’ve got to play well, and it’s a make-miss league. I don’t think there was an issue on either side. One team beat the other team. That’s what happens.”
Morey also needs to be accountable. He was paid a lot of money to help get the sixers over the hump. Morey hasn’t worked out in Philly. Rivers is out, the writing is in the wall
Morey’s style will always keep a team competitive, but they will never win a championship with him running the personnel decisions.
Well I mean the sixers were competitive before him. He was suppose to get us to the next step. He has done nothing but bring a lot of ex-rockets to Philly. Hasn’t worked out
Someone mentioned the signing Irving to replace Harden would be a good idea. Aside from his fragility it might be a good idea. Sure you still have hood quirkiness to deal with but he along with a solid point guard and a scoring athletic wing might be what’s missing. Have Irving in for his scoring ability to take pressure off of Embiid. Have a pass first pg who can shoot open shots in a 3 guard rotation and a wing with size, versatile scoring and defense at the wing
The only issue I can see is that they’d have to give up Maxey and Melton to get either of the things on that wishlisht. Whatever PG you get would also need to be good on defense, because Kyrie is godawful and often doesn’t engage. You can’t have a zero-defense backcourt.
Nobody has ever once claimed Kyrie to be “hood”…. Wtf are you even mentioning?
LMAO at Irving being the answer to any question other than “who is the league’s biggest douche”
Again, Sixers do not have the cap flexibility to make such a move unless Kyrie’s willing to play for cheaper, and he’s no improvement over Harden.
No trade needed for kyrie— Sixers can replace Harden via fa
Unpopular opinion ahead:
Embiid’s complaints about his teammates after Game 7 when he and Harden were both the worst players on the court for either team is pathetic. Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, and PJ Tucker all had better games than Embiid or Harden individually.
I love Embiid’s game, but he’s soft. Spent a lot of time complaining about being “disrespected” by not getting MVP or DPOY, and the minute he gets the former he vanishes when his team needs him most. He made one shot in the second half of Game 7. Only one of his rebounds looked like he put any effort into it. Had multiple careless plays and looked like he didn’t care at all once the Sixers were down. Maybe he is injured, but that hasn’t stopped Anthony Davis, Jalen Brunson, or Jimmy Butler from delivering. He needs to spend the offseason working on his mentality as much as he does on his conditioning. Embiid is one of the best players in the league in terms of pure talent. He needs to actually impact the game like it.
100% accurate. Blaming his teammates was a JOKE. He is so soft and I think the sixers should look into moving him. Embiid and Harden were AWFUL from 4th qtr of game 6 on.
He didn’t blame his teammates— you clearly didn’t read nothing but a headline.
Embid is the Ben Roethlisburger of the NBA. When they lose it’s always someone else’s fault and/or a conflated injury
The difference is that Roethlisburger has actually led a team to a title. More than once. Embiid can’t even get out of the second round.
Not an unpopular opinion, I agree with every word (and I’m very popular lol)
I agree that Embiid has to get mentally tougher if he wants to win. But to be fair, he didn’t complain about his teammates. If you watch the whole video, he was asked if he was going to try to convince Harden to come back this summer, and he said that it was not only about Harden and him, that it takes a whole team to win and that everyone (including himself) needs to find ways to get better. A perfectly normal and harmless answer, unless you cherry-pick the right cut (as some people did). link to twitter.com
Thank You OTOGAR SPOT ON
I told Doc, he got to get Maxey going early. He did that in game 4 and 5. Then he went rogue. It’s simple, Maxey the young guy, get him going in the first half. Then Harden in the 3rd and Embiid in the 4th to finish em off. This why you dont go against Coach Kurtis aka The Real Coach K.
Who are you?
How do you talk to Doc?
Morey got out from Ben Simmons contract. For that alone he deserves first ballot Hall of Fame.
Agreed on that but it got leaked last week that he was offered Haliburton for him as well. No clue why you’d choose an old James harden instead.
Because Morey is infatuated with James Harden and the Rockets team he built that didn’t win a championship.
Although I don’t totally blame him for not taking Haliburton. In hindsight it looks bad & lots of people were hyped for Haliburton but at the time, Harden with a pretty good resume & the experience he brings, he seemed to be the wiser choice for where the 76ers were trying to get to. There’s nothing to suggest the 76ers would have done much better with Haliburton or better at all. You could say the future would be better but again… That isn’t what the 76ers were trying to do.
Hell we also don’t know exactly the details of the trade or even if it is really true. It is all just a report that was never confirmed by either team. For as good as Haliburton supposedly is as well, he didn’t really changed Indy’s position in the standings. The Kings did a lot better without Haliburton/with Sabonis though. I am sure the Kings are ecstatic with Morey turning the trade down if that is what happened. Simmons is a dumpster fire.
The whole team is market contract
Due to luxury tax, Process is likely to fail starting next season
Keep Harden, the rest free agents are gone
McDaniels
Niang
Reed
Milton
Celtics just the better team, Embiid show class hugging all the Celtics, Harden ran to the locker to grab his golf clubs.
The Celtics may be better but the Sixers were total no shows in the last two games, especially game 7. They just QUIT !
it is time to blow it up and start a rebuild! get the best we can get for Joel embiid, do a sign and trade with Harden to Houston and get anything, try to trade Tobias Harris since he’s in the last year of his contract making 39 million. maybe trade and be to Phoenix put him with Kevin Durant and Booker and that would probably bring us back Deandre ayton plus some more
Process 2.5?
I approve! Embiid to the Knicks. Mitch, Randle, Fournier and picks for Embiid and Tucker. Make it happen, Leon.
Keep Harris. His contact is a net negative now. He’ll be a great tank commander, let him post big numbers and move him at the deadline. By all accounts he’s also a solid vet and can mentor Maxey and the other youngsters.
Bad take
Its time to break up the sixers. After Embid,Maxey, Melton and Reed everyone else including Doc needs to be shown the door.