MY ACCOUNT
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers criticised his side for their toughness and playing too slow in Tuesday’s blowout 120-85 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 5.
The defeat leaves the 76ers down 3-2 in the Conference semi-finals series with games in both Philadelphia and, if required, Miami to come.
The 76ers were never a threat in Game 5, trailing by 12 points at quarter time, with Miami eventually winning by 35 points; the equal biggest margin in the 2021-22 playoffs so far.
“They were just more physical. We didn’t run our stuff very well,” Rivers told reporters after the game.
“We played at a snail’s pace. We had 85 shots, turned the ball over, everything they did tonight was harder and better.
“Their stuff was better than what we ran, their energy was better, their toughness was better, I haven’t said that very often about us, and that’s on all of us.
“That’s on me to make sure they’re ready and that’s on them to be ready. Tonight, we were not.”
The 76ers had squared up the series after being down 2-0 but Rivers was left bemused by their lack of effort in Game 5.
“Obviously, they just were so much more engaged, more physical, took us out of stuff, there was a lot of disappointment from all of us tonight,” Rivers said.
Embiid had played in both Games 3 and 4 after a concussion and a fractured orbital bone, but struggled for impact in Game 5, managing only 17 points, five rebounds and two assists.
“We didn’t play defense,” Embiid said. “We weren’t physical enough, we weren’t locked in from the beginning, and they took advantage of it.”
James Harden was kept to 14 points, six rebounds and four assists for Philadelphia.
“They got off to a good start,” Harden said. “Being down 12 in the first quarter on the road against a really good team is difficult.
“We cannot allow that to happen. Especially, Game 5 and the two games where we just came off our home court playing well. It is difficult to come back and fight your way back and we just never got our pop.”
