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The injury bug has hit the NBA, and LeBron James, who hasn’t escaped it himself this season, blamed it on the condensed schedule.
James had wanted to start the season a month later than December 22, and felt holding the All-Star Game was a bad idea. Either way, he felt the players needed more rest, especially since James and the Los Angeles Lakers finished last season on October 11, when they beat the Miami Heat in six games. to win the NBA Championship.
To demonstrate the difficulty of the schedule this year, the 76ers played the second half of the season, their last 36 games, in 67 days.
James sent out a series of tweets about the situation.
In the playoffs alone, several key players were injured, including Sixers second-team All-NBA center Joel Embiid, who missed a game and continued to be hampered by a small lateral meniscus tear in the right knee.
Sixers starter Danny Green suffered strain in his right calf early in Game 3 that ruled him out of the series and could rule him out for two to five weeks.
On Wednesday alone, All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard was ruled out for the Los Angeles Clippers’ game with Utah due to a sprained right knee.
READ MORE: Sixers Joel Embiid named All-NBA second team; eligible for a $ 191 million four-year super-max extension
Ahead of Game 5 on Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks, Sixers coach Doc Rivers was asked about James’ critical comments.
I didn’t hurt myself, I haven’t had an injury all year, Rivers joked. I feel good.
Then Rivers got serious.
When LeBron speaks, we all listen, that’s for sure, Rivers said. There are injuries every year, there were injuries in the bubble last year, so the last two years have been very difficult.
Rivers said there is a silver lining to this.
We’re doing well and I think that says a lot about the league players we can overcome, Rivers said of the season.
Sixers backup center Dwight Howard can relate to the Embiids injury, especially during the playoffs.
I remember when I played with Houston as we walked into the [2015] In the Western Conference Finals, there was a game where I injured my meniscus and my MCL, so I understand the feeling he gets, Howard said after Wednesday’s shootout. It’s really hard to want to play and not think about what you’re dealing with, but that’s when you have to rely on your team, the energy of the crowd, the bench, for you. keep alive.
Rarely in an NBA interview will a player be compared to a former relief pitcher with a handlebar mustache, but Rivers has compared Sixers wing Matisse Thybulle to Rollie Fingers, the Hall of Fame closer to the teams. Oakland As who won three consecutive World Series from 1972-74.
Rivers was asked before the game about his opinion of Thybulle joining Embiid on the NBA’s second defensive team, when he used his baseball analogy.
It’s like Rollie Fingers, a relief pitcher, comes in and shut down the other starting teams or their big hitter, Rivers said. This is what Matisse does for us.
The NBA and NBPA have announced that out of 164 players tested for COVID-19 since June 9, a new player has returned a confirmed positive test.
The series returns to Atlanta for Game 6 at 7:30 p.m. Friday. If Game 7 is needed, it will be Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center.
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