Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn took the podium after his team got absolutely destroyed by the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs. 

Vaughn, like most coaches do in NBA, decided to complain about the officiating and more specifically, Joel Embiid not being called for traveling and three second violations during the game. 

Jacque Vaughn complaining about officiating after Game 1

Originally tweeted by ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) on April 15, 2023.

“Hopefully they’ll be calling traveling and 3 seconds on the big fella [Joel Embiid] next game. So I look forward to that.”

“Strategy, check” – LOL

Let’s be very clear: The Brooklyn Nets lost to the Philadelphia 76ers yesterday 121-101. 

Hey coach, I’m not too sure that strategy worked out very well for you yesterday, bud. You might want to rethink that.

What we have here is a classic example of an NBA coach who can’t fathom losing to Embiid and the Sixers after their game plan to double and triple team the MVP front runner did not work. 

THE BROOKLYN NETS LOST BY 20 POINTS.

On top of that, it wasn’t even because of “bad officiating” or really, Joel Embiid. 

The Sixers set a new franchise record, connecting on 21-of-43 three point attempts. They shot nearly 45% from beyond the arc and almost 56% from the floor. James Harden hit seven three pointers, including five in the first half. Five players on the Sixers scored in double digits, while PJ Tucker scored six points with seven rebounds (five offensive), two assists, and FIVE steals. 

Read the Full Game 1 Recap Here >>

But sure, after Game 1 of the series, Jacque Vaughn wants to complain about officiating and Joel Embiid.

This reminds me of Nick Nurse doing the same in last year’s playoffs.

I figured it was going to happen at some point but after game one is pretty embarrassing behavior. 

Good rule of thumb: If your team loses by 20 points, plenty of things went wrong outside of three second violations and missed travel calls. 

The fact of the matter is that no one in the NBA can stop Joel Embiid. The only way to stop him is to foul him and then he crushes you at the free throw line. That too results in coaches complaining about officiating. 

Just ask JB Bickerstaff. Any time the Sixers play Cleveland, he’s constantly complaining about officiating.

It’s pathetic. 

The Brooklyn Nets game plan yesterday was to double and triple team Embiid. The Sixers countered that with James Harden, Tobias Harris, and Tyrese Maxey. 

Honestly, that’s the wrong game plan to begin with. Embiid is going to get his regardless, just like he did yesterday in what really should be considered a “quiet” performance from the MVP front runner. 

Pick your poison Jacque. If you were smart, you’d let Embiid get his and force him to win the basketball game by himself by taking everyone else out of the game. 

Embiid scored 26 points with five rebounds, three assists, a steal, and two blocks. 

Thanks to the double and triple teams, that left plenty of room for Harden and the rest of the Sixers team to score. Harden scored 23 points on 8-of-21 shooting and did most of his damage from beyond the arc, knocking down 7-of-13 from long range, including five 3s in the first half. 

Tobias Harris finished the game with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.

Stop crying. Be better. We’re only one game into this series. The Brooklyn Nets clearly can’t hang with the Sixers and that was on full display yesterday. 

Up Next:

The Sixers will host the Nets tomorrow night for Game 2, looking to take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

On Thursday night, I’ll be at Bankroll Philly with Sean Brace and Buster from Q102 broadcasting live for Game 3 in Brooklyn. If you’re in the city, come hangout. We’ll watch the Sixers, talk some shit, and I’ll have a bunch of t-shirts on me from the shop to give out. Should be fun.

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