Doc Rivers Reflects on 76ers' Playoff Loss Before 1st Game vs. Philly as Bucks HC

Doc Rivers doesn't know how the Philadelphia 76ers lost Games 6 and 7 in last year's playoffs against the Boston Celtics, but he sure believes he had the right gameplan.

Rivers told reporters he felt Joel Embiid did not get the ball enough in those losses despite the scheme favoring the reigning NBA MVP.

"Maybe they were better. Could that be a possibility?" Rivers said. "I thought Game 6 was our game. I didn't think Joel go the ball enough, and trust me, [the gameplan] was for him to get it. And he didn't get it. I don't know how healthy he was. But as I told you guys a hundred times, you put yourself in those positions, winning is hard. You're gonna win some of them and you're not gonna win some of them."

The loud sound you hear in the background is JJ Redick pointing at his TV saying, "I told you so!" Redick, now an ESPN NBA analyst, created a social media firestorm last week when he ripped Rivers, saying the Milwaukee Bucks coach doesn't take accountability when his teams fall short.

"I've seen the trend for years. The trend is always making excuses," Redick said. "We get it. Taking over a team in the middle of the season is hard. Just like getting traded in the middle of the season is hard for a player. But it's always an excuse. ... There's never accountability with that guy."

If Redick wants evidence for his claim, Rivers provided it in a 30-second soundbite. In one swoop, Rivers took the blame for the collapse off himself, saying he schemed the game correctly, and then threw it on either Embiid, James Harden or a combination of the two.

Meanwhile, Rivers has blown three 3-1 leads and three 3-2 leads in playoff series in his career. He has the most losses in Game 7s in NBA history with 10.

The Sixers host the Bucks on Sunday, so it will be interesting to see what kind of reception Rivers receives.