I honestly don’t have much to say about yesterday’s game outside of Joel Embiid and James Harden were absolutely horrible and the result of Game 7 against the Boston Celtics was a complete embarrassment for the Philadelphia 76ers team, organization, and fans. 

I mean seriously, what else do you say?

We can worry about how this team is going to look next year and who’s going to be here when the 2023-2024 begins but right now, the Philadelphia 76ers should really be treated like an ex-girlfriend.

Block them on social media, their phone numbers, and pray to god they don’t show up at your door step months down the road looking like the same pile of trash you left behind last year. 

I guess we should touch on a few things regardless, it’s our duty as a Philadelphia sports website so here’s what we have to review. 

Joel Embiid and the Media 

First up, we have this quote going around social media from Joel Embiid’s post game press conference that had people fuming. 

“Me and James, we can’t win alone. That’s why basketball is played five-on-five. We need everybody to find ways to be better.”

That’s not fair because it wasn’t the entire quote given by Joel Embiid. I will say, however, the full quote wasn’t much better either. Here’s the actual quote from Embiid in its entirety. 

Embiid was referencing James Harden’s future with the Philadelphia 76ers and the fact that he’s a free agent next season. 

The statement still stinks. 

If this was said after the Game 6 loss, it would have been fine, I guess, but to say it after Game 7 with a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in your career and the first time for the Sixers since 2001 is pretty disappointing given the fact that Embiid and Harden were the only two players that DID NOT show up yesterday for the Sixers. 

Embiid should know better. Period. 

Joel Embiid cracking a joke at the podium (Giannis Reference) 

Another bad look here from Joel Embiid.

One, because the quote itself doesn’t resonate with the city of Philadelphia since Giannis already delivered an NBA Championship for the Milwaukee Bucks and as we all know, the Philadelphia 76ers haven’t been able to get out of the second round of the playoffs during the “Embiid Era” 

Bad Visual: Embiid and Tatum Following Game 7 

This is not something you want to see from Joel Embiid while your team just got blown out by Jayson Tatum, who scored 51 points on you while Embiid and Harden combined for a total of 24 points. 

Can’t have that. Embiid should know better. Congratulate Jayson Tatum privately after the game and not on the court of a nationally televised game in which you just lost by 20+ points. 

James Harden: “This is only Year 1 for us.” 

James Harden was brought here to win an NBA Championship with Joel Embiid. He was healthy this season going into the playoffs and unfortunately did not deliver as an NBA player that believes he is deserving of a max contract. 

James Harden Game 7: 9 PTS, 3/11 FGM, 1/5 3PM

I don’t see how the Philadelphia 76ers re-sign him to anything and honestly, they shouldn’t. Harden has proven to be too inconsistent and an unreliable second option on the Sixers. 

There shouldn’t be a Year 2. 

Doc Rivers planning to coach the Sixers next year

No. 

Here’s the Doc Rivers experience in the playoffs during his career as a head coach. 

• 2003: Blew 3-1 lead
• 2009: Blew 3-2 lead
• 2010: Blew 3-2 lead
• 2012: Blew 3-2 lead
• 2015: Blew 3-1 lead
• 2020: Blew 3-1 lead
• 2023: Blew 3-2 lead

Talk about the player performances all you want but history certainly does not lie. That’s not a “big game” coach and the Philadelphia 76ers will not win anything with Rivers leading the team. 

Look around the NBA. The Phoenix Suns fired Monty Williams for not getting the job done in the playoffs. The Milwaukee Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer for getting upset in the first round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat. 

In no way, shape, or form should Doc Rivers be coaching the Philadelphia 76ers next season.

That should be the number one priority of the Sixers’ organization and if he’s not fired or Rivers doesn’t “step down” over the next week, then the Sixers are showing their fanbase (or what’s left of it) that they don’t care about winning in the playoffs. 

In closing, the Philadelphia 76ers are in trouble.

You have Joel Embiid, the NBA MVP, the back-to-back scoring champion, First Team All-NBA who now has cemented his reputation as coming up small in the playoffs. 

You have James Harden who is looking for a new contract, and already has the reputation of coming up small in the playoffs, that will likely walk out the door this offseason for another team. 

You have Tyrese Maxey who is deserving of a max contract and now likely the focal point of an impending “rebuild” with him and Embiid. 

You have Tobias Harris under a max contract for one more season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2024. 

You have a 38-year old PJ Tucker under contract for two more seasons. 

The Sixers draft picks don’t give them much room to move things around either, with their 2025 first round pick going to OKC and their 2027 first round pick going to Brooklyn. 

Good luck trying to move Tobias Harris’ contract and get anything of greater or equal value in return. If James Harden leaves, while inconsistent, I doubt you’ll find the same type of player in free agency that will sign with the Sixers. 

This was the year. It was the final straw for most Sixers fans and the fact that they lost yet another Game 7 in the fashion that they did, it will be a tough sell to get the city behind the Philadelphia 76ers next season when you have teams like the Eagles and Phillies who are also finding success in their rightful leagues. 

What a mess. 

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