In the first round of the NBA playoffs G5, the Raptors defeated the 76ers 103-88, pulling the total score to 2-3, the 76ers from the original 3-0, to the current 3-2, is it that many fans are talking about the old Rivers to be reversed again, into a reality? After the game, Rivers personally explained the root cause of the team's loss, and confidently believed that the team still had a strange move that was useless, and did not worry about being pulled by the Raptors for two consecutive sets.
After the game, coach Rivers said: "The Raptors are a tough team, they play more physically, the whole game gave us a lot of pressure, constantly impacting us on both ends of the attack, and we did not respond, we had too many reluctant shots, resulting in not keeping up with the opponent's offense, losing two games in a row, for me, this problem is not very worrying, because I know that in the last two games, we have an extra gear that has not been used.
Rivers summed up the reasons for the team's loss there are two reasons, one is that the Raptors played very tough, this game the Raptors did show a very strong offensive and defensive ability, Birch, Achua, Anunoby for Embiid's restrictions to the extreme, Siakam, Trent, Barnes for Harden's restrictions are also excellent, more importantly, their 5 teams scored in double figures, the best defense at the same time the attack did not fall.
Second: the 76ers failed to keep up with the rhythm of the Raptors, this game the Raptors played very smart, using joint defense to limit Harden and Embiid cooperation, Rivers saw this, but never found a way to deal with it, to the end of the game, Rivers pinned more hope on the young Maxi, but Maxi's outside feel cold, three-point shots 3 out of 0, which led to the team has lost the original tactical play.
But Rivers is very confident, he not only the team lost two games in a row, why Rivers is so confident, the reason is embiid due to injury problems, these two games, Rivers has adjusted the tactics, reduced Embiid holding the ball, the team was pulled twice in a row, there is not much way back, the next Embiid is bound to get more ball rights, endure the pain to lead the team forward. This may be Rivers's best strategy. And Rivers really can't afford to lose, according to statistics, Rivers coaching career lost a total of 31 games in the playoff series finale, the worst number of losses in history. While there have been 146 3-0 leads in NBA history, no team has been successfully turned over so far, and if the 76ers are overturned, then Rivers will set the latest shameful record.
Compared to Rivers's self-confidence, Embiid after the game is more dissatisfied with Harden's loss on the offensive end, he hopes that Harden can have more offensive desire, Embiid said: The main reason why we lose is that we do too bad at both ends of the attack and defense, my injury is no problem, for Harden, I have always stressed that he plays more aggressively, he needs to be himself, but it is not my job to persuade Harden, this is the task of head coach Rivers, especially when the opponent wraps me up like this game, Harden should take over the offensive charge.
Obviously, Embiid is dissatisfied with Harden, after all, Harden only made 11 shots in this game, got 15 points, 2 rebounds and 7 assists, there is no shadow of any superstar, for Rivers, for Embiid, Harden must make changes, the team wants to get rid of the fate of being reversed, Harden will become the key. I don't know if Harden can recognize his own shortcomings after this game.