76ers’ coach Doc Rivers phone calls Ben Simmons drama in Philly ‘clutter’

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers mentioned his workforce referred to the drama encompassing Ben Simmons’ absence past time as “clutter”. Rivers stated Simmons’ absence did not damage the team’s odds of winning a championship far more than the midseason league-extensive COVID-19 outbreak did.

Ahead of the Sixers’ matchup at Barclays Middle against the Nets on Monday — which coincidentally is the initially recreation Simmons is playing following lacking the complete 2021-22 NBA period owing to a blend of psychological well being and lessen back again troubles — Rivers reported the All-Star guard’s absence “didn’t bother us” as significantly as the outside the house entire world thought.

“We played over it, all of that litter is what we termed it,” Rivers stated. “We ended up a recreation away from, two video games absent from the No. 1 seed. Our guys experienced a fantastic capability to sort of just target and engage in.”

The “clutter” Rivers is referring to was the teaching camp saga with Simmons. Simmons stated on Media Working day he reported to Sixers teaching camp in spite of obtaining an remarkable trade request since he wished to “do the correct point.” Rivers in the end threw Simmons out of observe for declining to participate in team drills and Simmons by no means played another video game or attended one more Sixers apply. The Nets acquired him at the trade deadline in the offer for James Harden.

Simmons, on a the latest episode of The Aged Man and The 3 Podcast with J.J. Redick, advised Redick he requested Rivers not to play him in any drills due to the fact he was not mentally ready to participate, but that Rivers put him in on the 1st drill in any case. When he declined to take part in further drills, Rivers reportedly threw him out of exercise.

And when questioned to mirror on his time coaching Simmons, Rivers declined to do so.

“I don’t [reflect] proper now,” he explained ahead of tipoff on Monday. “I’m far more focused on us.”

Simmons also agreed with Redick on the podcast episode that Rivers threw him under the bus in the postgame interview following Game 7 of the sequence towards the Hawks. A reporter requested Rivers if Simmons could be the place guard of a championship group.

Rivers responded: “I don’t know the remedy to that.”

Which can make it substantially a lot less coincidental and far far more premeditated for the league to have scheduled Nets vs. Sixers as the 1st match for Simmons because he was putting on a Philly uniform.

Simmons’ friend and Australian teammate Patty Mills said he doesn’t believe there is any bad blood in between Simmons and his previous group.

“I think when he’s occur in this article, this is a fantastic clean start for him and obtaining him on the flooring,” Mills claimed. “What we’re seeking at below is more about ourselves.”

Nets head mentor Steve Nash prompt finding a match towards his former teammates as the to start with in 440 times could be great for Simmons.

“Why not? That is probably a dilemma for Ben, but some fellas appreciate it, some guys could treatment significantly less,” Nash mentioned. “I believe we’re all impacted otherwise by that. Possibly it could be a beneficial point to get one particular out of the way and then just perform.”

The Sixers rested Joel Embiid, who also threw Simmons underneath the bus following the next-round playoff exit two seasons back, in opposition to the Nets. They also rested Harden, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House.

Simmons has a month and a half until finally visiting Philadelphia as an opponent for the 1st time on Nov. 22. That’s when we’ll know just how strained the connection is, presumably from a fully loaded Sixers workforce and the similar fans he as soon as performed for.

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