Doc Rivers upset with lack of playmakers on Sixers in loss to Knicks
The Philadelphia 76ers are continuing to adjust their playstyle with the absence of Ben Simmons still being at the forefront of their season. In Tuesday’s 112-99 loss to the New York Knicks, they missed the 6-foot-10 All-Star badly.
The Sixers were not able to find a way to stop the Knicks on their end defensively and they were not able to move the ball and find a rhythm offensively. They shot only 43.9% from the floor, 12-for-41 from deep, and had 24 assists against 14 turnovers.
Philadelphia could not get Seth Curry going nor Joel Embiid and on the other end, Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier got into a big rhythm for the Knicks. It was apparent that the Sixers really missed the playmaking, and the defense, of Simmons in this one.
“They scored, they shot 47%, 112, I thought our offense was their offense,” said a frustrated coach Doc Rivers. “Their offense didn’t blow us away, their defense was the difference tonight. Kemba had it going, Fournier made shots, so clearly they’re a better offensive team because they have more shotmakers, they have more playmakers. That’s one thing about Kemba and Fournier, they’re not just scorers, they’re playmakers. The more playmakers you can add to a team, the better. We didn’t have any playmakers tonight and that showed on our end as well.”
When asked specifically if this is one of those games where Simmons’ absence is felt, Rivers quickly dismissed that thought.
“I don’t worry about that,” he quickly said. “Ben’s not here, so yeah. If we would’ve won the game, so, no. I don’t do that.”
Doc Rivers mentioned that the team didn’t have any playmakers tonight. I asked him if this is 1 of those nights they really miss Ben Simmons. He cut it off quickly and said: “Ben’s not here”. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/e3kdRJ1ykE
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) October 27, 2021
There were too many times when guys like Walker, Fournier, Derrick Rose, RJ Barrett, they all got into Philadelphia and really bothered them. Rivers was upset that his guys did not respond the right way and make the play out of it.
“Get open, own your space, that’s what you do,” he added. “We had guys leaning backwards, leaning away, it was unbelievable to watch. How many times did you see us leaning away from the basket, falling away? Guards, bigs, everybody. You cannot allow someone to be in your space.”
The Sixers will look to bounce back when they host the Detroit Pistons on Thursday back at home.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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