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Surprisingly, the Philadelphia 76ers are off to an 0-2 start following losses to Eastern Conference rivals the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks.
So far, the Sixers haven’t played like Eastern Conference contenders, and their best player, Joel Embiid, hasn’t looked quite like himself, especially after Thursday’s 90-88 loss to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
As concerns begin to rise in Philly, Doc Rivers may have provided an answer to the five-time All-Star’s early-season woes.
“He had a little plantar fasciitis before the season started — before training camp — and that took him off his conditioning program,” Rivers told reporters on Friday. “And so he’s back on that. But listen, he’s playing with the right intentions.”
While Rivers added that the injury is no longer hampering his star player, the residual effects may be getting to Embiid. Frustrated following Thursday’s loss to the Bucks, Embiid declined to speak to the media. The five-time All-Star finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and a block but went 0-of-7 with three turnovers in the second half.
With the season still in its infancy, Rivers is preaching patience, saying he’s “the least worried about Joel.”
“He didn’t play well. And that’s OK; that’s going to happen,” Rivers said. “He’s got to get his rhythm, his conditioning. All that has to get better, but it will. So I’m not concerned with that. I think if we can get Joel those shots he had last night every night, most of the time we’re going to be very happy about the outcome.”
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