Sixers coach Doc Rivers explains success of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons
Embiid #Embiid
The Philadelphia 76ers just wrapped up a highly successful regular season where they finished 49-23 and earned the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs. It was a terrific season for the Sixers considering it was their first season under a new coach and with so many new pieces, but the key has been the play of the stars.
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have had success in the past, but there has always been this school of thought out there that the two of them can’t win together as a duo. Sure, they have not been past Round 2 of the playoffs, but they have been highly successful in terms of winning games and being able to work together in tandem.
Coach Doc Rivers was confused by this notion when he took the job and after a season where they finished with an offensive rating of 119.4 per Cleaning the Glass, he explained their success on the season.
“Just understanding spacing,” said Rivers. “It’s good when you have one guy down there instead of that being a bad thing. If Ben drives and Joel is in the paint that was always looked as bad. We showed them on film that’s good. If you go to the basket of Jo’s guy helps, you to give it to him. He doesn’t help, you get a layup.”
Of course, it does help that the two of them have more room to operate than in the 2019-20 season. They now have legitimate shooters surrounding them in the form of Danny Green and Seth Curry as well as an improved Tobias Harris.
However, Rivers does have a point. Simmons is so explosive going to the basket that defenses have to pay attention to him. Once he gets past his man, that forces Embiid’s defender to make a choice. Either step up and let an easy pass be made to the big fella or stay home and let Simmons score.
“I just think the spacing and them understanding that there is enough room, instead of being frustrated that one was down there, I thought they needed to understand, that’s a good thing,” Rivers finished. “I think that’s helped them.”
At the end of the day, the two of them have been the driving force for the team’s success this season, and heading into the playoffs, the team will go as far as they take them. They now have to carry this into the postseason.
“I knew Ben and Joel could play together,” Rivers finished. “Everything I heard coming in here is that they couldn’t and I kept saying, I don’t understand that. Why would people think that? I don’t think it’s a surprise though. I think it’s what we saw coming in and I just think they’re doing it. What we asked them to do.”
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