Doc Rivers just can’t catch a break.
Even after fending off the haters who called for his head when it looked like the 76ers were in jeopardy of blowing a 3-0 lead to the Raptors, Rivers and the Sixers were delivered a huge blow after it was announced yesterday that superstar center Joel Embiid will be out for the foreseeable future for a concussion and facial fracture.
Breaking: Joel Embiid suffered a right orbital fracture and mild concussion in Game 6 vs. Toronto, the 76ers announced.
He is out indefinitely. pic.twitter.com/ekwsJKdRlx
— ESPN (@espn) April 30, 2022
The worst part of the whole Joel Embiid injury for Philly fans — he didn’t need to be in the game. The 76ers already had a commanding lead in the series-clincher when Pascal Siakam delivered the blow that will now have Embiid sidelined.
The play occurred with less than four minutes remaining and the Sixers up 29 points.
The play where Joel Embiid got injured pic.twitter.com/GYWDUxupoU
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 30, 2022
Shortly after the Joel Embiid injury news dropped, fans flocked to social media to blame Doc Rivers for keeping the big man in the game throughout the blowout.
Doc Rivers really had Embiid in up 30 pic.twitter.com/4BlQbpKa72
— Ballsack Sports ® (@BallsackSports) April 30, 2022
Doc rivers Masterclass leaving your best player in the game up 30!! #HereTheyCome baby!!!!! pic.twitter.com/xecRxdbQvX
— 𝙎𝙝𝙪𝙗𝙝 ⁶𓅓 (@OVOLakeShow) April 30, 2022
Doc rivers when he only needs to win one game to win a series pic.twitter.com/ZeDRg9hljq
— Tired Sixers Fan (@CaptainNappyBoy) April 26, 2022
This is what we get when the idiot of the coach called DOC RIVERS keeps him in the game up 29 in the last minutes of the game. Its on DOC!!!!! AND SIAKAM I hope he is happy…
Cannot believe that Embiid will be out— Nicole Cardoso (@Nicole_ngc) April 30, 2022
Why tf was Embiid in the game with a 30 point lead like this????
Doc Rivers is horrible https://t.co/MVzdq7nyRz
— B S O L Z (@BSOLZ_) April 30, 2022
Wow Embiid really got hurt with 3:58 left up 29??? Did I not just say the other day what’s the point of having star players in that late with that big of a lead. Doc rivers ain’t it
— Justin (@Salondaka92) April 30, 2022
Doc Rivers explaining why Embiid was still in the game up 30
— JP – The Wholesome Truth Teller (@jay_pea619) April 30, 2022
Why did Doc Rivers have Joel Embiid in the game up 30 with 4 minutes left?
— Guru (@DrGuru_) April 30, 2022
Interested to hear Doc Rivers' defensive explanation as to why Embiid was in the game with 4 minutes left up 30.
Was the 'fuck you' worth it?
— Sports Hub LTD. (@SportsHubLTD) April 30, 2022
Now, Doc Rivers and the Philadelphia 76ers will face the already daunting task of going up against the #1 seed without their best player and playmaker.
Sure, we can blame Siakam for throwing a nasty blow to Embiid. But at the end of the day, there was no reason to even have the big man on the floor at that stage of the game.
If the 76ers come up short against the Heat, the Doc Rivers decision to keep a banged up Joel Embiid in during a blowout will linger all offseason long.
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