PHILADELPHIA — The Sixers’ bench has had its ups and downs throughout this strange, condensed season, and Friday night vs. the Pelicans was another example where it was an area of frustration.
Philly blew a 17-point lead vs. New Orleans, which meant instead of having the starters rest late in the game, they again had to come back into the contest after playing well enough to have the rest of the night off. Doc Rivers said he wasn’t “worried” about the bench, though he pinpointed the unit’s defense as an area that could be improved.
“There’s no fix, we’re a good unit,” Rivers told FortyEightMinutes and other media in Philadelphia after the contest. “You don’t need to go out and fix the whole team because they didn’t play well, but defensively, I thought we were horrible, all of them. That unit usually gives us some energy and they didn’t do that (on Friday).”
More From Philadelphia
- Including Saturday’s Pistons’ contest, the Sixers have five more games remaining in the season and Rivers isn’t sure whether or not the team will have any load management over the final stretch. When asked on Friday night, Rivers said he has “nothing to do with that.”
- Joel Embiid (knee), Ben Simmons (back tightness), and Seth Curry (hip) are all questionable vs. the Pistons. Philadelphia is playing Detroit on the second night of a back-to-back (they have one more back-to-back remaining after this).
- ICYMI: The Sixers waived Mason Jones, who was on a two-way contract with the franchise. They have until the conclusion of the regular season to fill the roster spot.
