Doc Rivers is not happy with the Media asking him about Paul Reed getting more minutes

[Memories]

He honestly did help the Clippers franchise become normalized around the league. I don't know how people couldn't say he didn't.

Chris Paul had a lot more to do with that than Doc.

[HotelVitale]

The guy asking the question here is Derek Bodner, used to write for the local Sixers blog and I think was on realgm back in the day. Glad he didn't turn into vacuous media guy, was asking the same type questions we all would (and holding Doc to answering them).

[NO-KG-AI]

Doc is starting to feel the pressure. He knows if he doesn't succeed this year with Embiid/Harden, he's gone. His scapegoat in Simmons is gone, so who will he blame this year if it doesn't go right?

Most 3-1 leads blown in the playoffs
Most game 7's lost as a coach

He's lucky Thibs carried that Celtics team in 08 or this guy would forever be known as playoff choker.

Lol, Doc stuck up for Simmons all year. He hardly used him as a scapegoat. Doc is an awful offensive coach, and will not win a title without a generational talent and multiple all stars. Honestly, he's the only coach that can be so uncreative offensively that an offense with Garnett, Pierce and Allen could stall out for long periods and almost cost them early in the playoffs. But lets not deflect for Ben

[Ballerhogger]

Keep Westbrook and get this dude to coach the Lakers ASAP!! I

[LarrySeinfeld]

In fairness to Doc we had the best backup of Embiid's career here until Morey screwed that up with his Harden infatuation.

Underrated post imo. To give up both Curry AND Drummond in that trade was desperation to get what you want on another level. Drummond gives you stability when you choose to rest Embiid or incase he gets in early foul trouble it could at least keep the game from running away from you. In a series matchup with Toronto he would've played an even bigger role considering the raptors lack a true 5, to defend that all game would be difficult. He's averaging a double-double this year in 22 mins. The Raptors are a team that rebounds very well and not having Drummond out there it plays to the Raptors strength, 1 less big body to worry about.

[IAMZOOTED2]

I know it's from an earlier media scrum, but it's crazy to think Doc actually feels like he is on Pop's level.... Pop has never blown the kind of leads Doc is notorious for... And while I expect the Sixers to get out to a 2-game lead on the Rapscsallions I also expect them to blow that lead and lose the series.

[rilamann]

Keep Westbrook and get this dude to coach the Lakers ASAP!! I

Now here's a guy who gets it....lol.

[Wilfried]

This dude already looks rattled and defeated going into this playoff run. I don't know how he can possibly be inspiring anyone in the locked room when he seems so defensive and irritated about people questioning his gameplan. If I were a Philly fan I would be very nervous at this point - is this the guy you want with you in the fox hole?

No and there's a 99,9% chance he's gone after this season (don't forget, Morey didn't hire him). And he knows it, that's why he's so hostile in his answers to a somewhat critical question.

Problem with Doc (and which seperates great coaches from decent ones), is when you listen to his answer he admits he adjust to the other team with his line-up. I would love to see him switch things so the other team has to adjust to us. But that's something I've never seen. And that's the problem because you will always be one game behind that way.

Even Brett Brown could surprise and be a bit more versatile than him.

[Dynamix]

Doc always had the media eating out of the palm of his hand, but he's been slipping up way more lately. Don't know if it's him losing his touch, having to deal with the Simmons drama and the pressure of getting fired twice in two years, or maybe just some reporters started realizing he's really not that great of a coach.

[Wilfried]

And now he gave away to the other coaches that, if you want to play against the corpse of DAJ, you have to go big.

[mademan]

Ι feel like every interview with Doc is basically media beating around the bush because they don't want to ask him directly the question they really want to ask him: "are you actually a terrible coach?" lol

The mutual disrespect / tension is real lol.

I disagree with Doc about this specific lineup of Jo with Paul, despite his NBA experience. The game is changing, and the Raptors play positionless basketball (bit still behind in terms of talent... for now).

Joel, James, Niang & Paul is this teams best lineup for this matchup imo

As if the 76ers don’t employ people who know the best lineups with the data to support it. The media cause of the metrics they can barely understand believe they know more than coaches now.

Doc went against the analytics on the Clippers and kept giving Harrell significant minutes over the more effect Zubac. He's already went against the analytics

[Raps in 4]

Doc is starting to respond to these questions like he is the Russell Westbrook of coaches, lol.

Keep Westbrook and get this dude to coach the Lakers ASAP!! I

No thank you please. Y'all should get them on the Knicks, match made in heaven. Could have all Rs too.

Russ
RJ
Reddish
Randle
Robinson

Coach: Rivers

The league is not ready for a Russ - Randle pairing

"they're saying us and Golden State are the super teams"

- Russ

[druggas]

I don't blame Doc for getting testy with the media. How many times do you have to hear the same dumb questions before it starts grating on your nerves? The media thinks it knows better than coaches and players even though they aren't with the team during practices and their "hindsight" is what generates their questions. I'm not saying that Doc is the greatest coach, but if you look at the life span of NBA coaches, he's beaten the odds.

[Zeno]

So far Raptors(or the Canadian government) has forced Danny Green into the starting lineup and Doc to play Paul Reed. Two things that Doc should do regardless. Playing the Raptors will be good for the 76ers assuming they win the series.

[HotelVitale]

In fairness to Doc we had the best backup of Embiid's career here until Morey screwed that up with his Harden infatuation.

Underrated post imo. To give up both Curry AND Drummond in that trade was desperation to get what you want on another level. Drummond gives you stability when you choose to rest Embiid or incase he gets in early foul trouble it could at least keep the game from running away from you. In a series matchup with Toronto he would've played an even bigger role considering the raptors lack a true 5, to defend that all game would be difficult. He's averaging a double-double this year in 22 mins. The Raptors are a team that rebounds very well and not having Drummond out there it plays to the Raptors strength, 1 less big body to worry about.

I mean, cool, but if you don’t make the trade you’re obviously not better with Drummond and Curry and no Harden heading into the PO. And the Nets had no real motivation to make an in season of they weren’t getting something useful right away for themselves. Don’t need to go over that again.

Also it’s allowed to make a simple observation—the Sixers could really use a capable back up 5 and it sucks they don’t have one—without it being one of those ‘If only GMs were as smart as me, those desperate losers.’ Can feel a negative emotion without having to blame someone for it.

[9th Wonder]

I think it's foolish to believe that fans and media have anywhere near a coach's understanding of the game. But in this case fans and media have been advocating for Reed to play for weeks. Doc finally played him in the last three games, possibly because a Toronto series was looking more and more likely. And now he treats the reporters like idiots and pretends like it was a foregone conclusion that Reed would get minutes against small lineups when that hasn't been the case all season. And even if Doc's right, what a prick.

[dhsilv2]

The mutual disrespect / tension is real lol.

I disagree with Doc about this specific lineup of Jo with Paul, despite his NBA experience. The game is changing, and the Raptors play positionless basketball (bit still behind in terms of talent... for now).

Joel, James, Niang & Paul is this teams best lineup for this matchup imo

As if the 76ers don’t employ people who know the best lineups with the data to support it. The media cause of the metrics they can barely understand believe they know more than coaches now.

Doc went against the analytics on the Clippers and kept giving Harrell significant minutes over the more effect Zubac. He's already went against the analytics

The 76er's analytics team from Hinkie I'm pretty sure is still around and likely even expanded on now. I don't think the clippers had half the brain power or data power as he's currently got.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Paul Reed is a hack at this stage of his career. Doc knows that. The guy is a liability because he overcommits in order to create hustle plays, so while his numbers may look good and his energy and athleticism is palpable, he's not doing anything clean and stable. Doc says this in plain english in a condescending tone because he's been around long enough that he's entitled to be grumpy. Greg Popovich has behaved the same way for decades. It's an impossible position for a coach.

[HotelVitale]

I don't blame Doc for getting testy with the media. How many times do you have to hear the same dumb questions before it starts grating on your nerves? The media thinks it knows better than coaches and players even though they aren't with the team during practices and their "hindsight" is what generates their questions. I'm not saying that Doc is the greatest coach, but if you look at the life span of NBA coaches, he's beaten the odds.

interesting, you’re taking the position that we should assume coaches don’t make tactical mistakes because they see more in practice than the media or we do? Doubt you actually believe that. Obviously a coach can both have more info than us and still not always have the best game plans (or at least not turn into Sean Spicer when someone asks him to explain his game plans).

Also I doubt you’re following the context if that’s your position here. First the question was very appropriate given that this was post game for a game in which Paul Reed was massive, plus he’s been productive whenever he got minutes lately (and the Sixers back ups have been terrible). Second Docs answer is nonsense—when the other team doesn’t have a large center Reed still generally doesn’t play much, it was a fake and condescending response. Third they’re going into a series against a team that doesn’t play a big 5 that much, and that will have a major athleticism and hustle advantage. People are gonna ask if this is his time to get a few more minutes.

Also I usually defend coaches and GMs versus potshots on these boards, but I don’t think Doc is above questioning in general, he’s made a lot of weird decisions about rotations in the PO and he definitely vastly prefers slow vet backups over younger and more athletic ones. He can have reasons for that (fewer fouls and mistakes) without it being absolutely beyond question. He just has a major thing around not wanting to be second guessed. Other coaches are a lot better about that.

[druggas]

I don't blame Doc for getting testy with the media. How many times do you have to hear the same dumb questions before it starts grating on your nerves? The media thinks it knows better than coaches and players even though they aren't with the team during practices and their "hindsight" is what generates their questions. I'm not saying that Doc is the greatest coach, but if you look at the life span of NBA coaches, he's beaten the odds.

interesting, you’re taking the position that we should assume coaches don’t make tactical mistakes because they see more in practice than the media or we do? Doubt you actually believe that. Obviously a coach can both have more info than us and still not always have pedestrians game plans, or at least not turn into a monster when someone asks him to explain his game plans.

Also I doubt you’re following the context if that’s your position here. First the question was very appropriate given that this was post game for a game in which Paul Reed was massive, plus he’s been productive whenever he got minutes lately (and the Sixers back ups have been terrible). Second Docs answer is nonsense—when the other team doesn’t have a large center Reed still generally doesn’t play much, it was a fake and condescending response. Third they’re going into a series against a team that doesn’t play a big 5 that much, and that will have a major athleticism and hustle advantage.

I don’t hate Doc or anything, but he’s made a lot of weird decisions about rotations in the PO and he definitely vastly prefers slow vet backups over younger and more athletic ones. He can have reasons for that (fewer fouls and mistakes) without it being absolutely beyond question.

I wrote my opinion just like you did. Why would you question it?