Sixers’ Doc Rivers says Draymond Green shouldn’t have been suspended, defends Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers defended star player Joel Embiid on Friday and mentioned that Golden State Warriors ahead Draymond Inexperienced shouldn’t have been suspended together with his Sixers up 3-0 in its playoff collection.  

Embiid was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul in Philadelphia’s Recreation 3 win over the Brooklyn Nets after kicking out at Nets heart Nic Clacton, who was standing over Embiid and obtained a technical foul. 

Joel Embiid, #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers, reacts towards referee Nick Buchert, #3, towards the Brooklyn Nets in the course of the first half of Recreation Three of the Japanese Convention First Spherical Playoffs at Barclays Middle on April 20, 2023, within the Brooklyn borough of New York Metropolis. (Picture by Sarah Stier/Getty Photos)

Rivers advised reporters on Friday that the NBA must do one thing concerning gamers making an attempt to goad stars into retaliating. 

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“I will say this, and I in all probability should not: I did not suppose Draymond [Green] ought to have been suspended,” Rivers mentioned Friday, in keeping with ESPN. “And I believe the league is establishing a really harmful precedent proper now, and this isn’t me campaigning, and I am lifeless critical. . . . If we will begin punishing the retaliators, and never the instigators, then we have got an issue on this league.”

Inexperienced was suspended by the league for Recreation 3 of Golden State’s series towards the Kings after stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis within the fourth quarter of Recreation 2. 

Draymond Inexperienced, #23 of the Golden State Warriors, steps over Domantas Sabonis, #10 of the Sacramento Kings, within the second half throughout Recreation Two of the Western Convention First Spherical Playoffs at Golden 1 Middle on April 17, 2023, in Sacramento, California. Inexperienced was issued a flagrant foul 2 on the play and was ejected from the sport.  (Ezra Shaw/Getty Photos)

Inexperienced stomped on Sabonis after the Kings’ forward grabbed Inexperienced’s leg as he tried to run again up court docket. 

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Rivers mentioned that gamers must be protected against being focused by opponents throughout video games.

“I have been a participant, and it is a gamers’ league, and I’m 100% pro-player,” Rivers mentioned. “I believe gamers ought to play in video games. We speak all 12 months about followers not being pleased about guys not taking part in, and now we’re taking guys out of the playoffs. I do not consider prior to now stuff both. They take away all of your techs on the finish of the season, proper? And also you begin over. Then it’s best to begin over with that stuff, too. . . . Draymond Inexperienced stepped on a man’s chest as a result of he was holding his foot. The instigator was holding his foot.”

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Within the NBA Playoffs, as soon as a participant accumulates four flagrant foul points, the league fingers down an computerized one-game suspension. 

Head coach Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts throughout play towards the Brooklyn Nets in the course of the first half of Recreation Three of the Japanese Convention First Spherical Playoffs at Barclays Middle on April 20, 2023, within the Brooklyn borough of New York Metropolis.  (Sarah Stier/Getty Photos)

“If I am at a park, and I will make this level, and also you stood over me? We’ll have an issue. I did not develop up within the sticks-and-stones period, I grew up within the break-the-bones period, so it is a little bit completely different,” Rivers mentioned, in keeping with ESPN. “Having mentioned that, these guys know they will do it, as a result of most probably you’ll be able to’t do something. I am not choosing on Claxton, however I do not suppose at a park he is standing over Joel. However once you’ve obtained the ref and all people else there, you recognize nothing goes to occur.”

Claxton was later ejected from the sport after receiving a technical foul within the fourth quarter for taunting Embiid.