It was time to return Doc Rivers, now at the head of the Bucks after a short stint in the ESPN studios. For his return to Philadelphia, the coach was able to savor his team's victory, despite the boos which accompanied the announcement of his name, ahead of the match.
“I haven’t heard anything to be honest” he assured, smiling. “That meant I was home. »
In the end, what does he remember from his three seasons at the head of the Sixers, each time ending in the conference semi-finals?
“I am generally happy with it, even if I would have liked us to go further. I wish we could have had a healthy Joel (Embiid) in the playoffs. But in the end, Joel became MVP and we became a team capable of playing for the title. This was not the case the season before” he assures the local press. “And then so much stuff happened. When you think about it, there was the James Harden trade, all the stuff around Ben (Simmons). Some things I controlled, others not, but hey, for me, if you don't win the title, you're not really happy. And that’s why we all do what we do. »
Giannis Antetokounmpo, his first fan
For Doc Rivers, it was the health of Joel Embiid that was the main factor of frustration in Pennsylvania.
“I'll put it this way: last year, before this series (against the Celtics, in the conference semifinals), who was betting on the Sixers? That's the important thing. Yes, we were leading 3-2 and we had our chance. We should have won Game 6. Game 7s are very complicated, everywhere. But we achieved something. Just reminding you how close we were. We look back, and Joel wasn't 100%. Stuff happens and we have to deal with it. »
In any case, the coach can count on the support of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The “Greek Freak” is delighted with the change of coach on the Bucks bench, despite the recent upheavals.
” I love it. It's incredible to play for him. He simply explains to me what he expects of me. You respect him because he's been in the league for 25 years… you have to respect what he's done in the league, he's won a title, he's won a lot of games, but when he comes in the locker room, he make things simple » concludes the double MVP.
