Joel Embiid Throws Shade at James Harden and Doc Rivers in Postgame Comments

The Philadelphia 76ers are starting to feel the noose tighten just a little bit, as their 3-0 series lead on the Toronto Raptors has been trimmed to 3-2 after a dominant Raptors performance led once again by Pascal Siakam. And Sixers' star Joel Embiid is throwing shade at his two main co-conspirators, James Harden and coach Doc Rivers:

He (Harden) needs to be aggressive and he needs to be himself.
(But) That's not really my job, that's probably on coach (Doc Rivers) to talk to him and tell him to take more shots -- especially if they're going to guard me the way they've been guarding. But that's really not my job.

It's an interesting suggestion, as it was only a few weeks back that Rivers criticized Harden after a game for shooting too much and not passing enough.

Harden was only 4-for-11 for 15 points in the Sixers 103-88 loss to Toronto in Game 5. The previous game, also a Raptors win, Harden took more shots, but the result wasn't much different, as he went 5-for-17 in that game. He's also 4-for-14 from three-point range in the last two games.

As for Doc Rivers, the doomsayers are now out in full force, given his previous propensity for blowing 3-1 series leads. In fact, he's the only coach in NBA history to have blown three such leads.

Three things are certain in life: Death, Taxes, and Doc Rivers team blowing a 3-1 lead. 😂😂😂
— Julieta - MambaGirl 💜💛 (@Ahmadanwar09) April 26, 2022

And wait, there's more.

Doc Rivers vs playoff leads:

2003: Blew a 3-1 lead
2009: Blew a 3-2 lead
2010: Blew a 3-2 lead
2012: Blew a 3-2 lead
2015: Blew a 3-1 lead
2016: Blew a 2-0 lead
2020: Blew a 3-1 lead
2022: Up 3-1 vs Toronto 👀 pic.twitter.com/DBNM00hvri
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) April 23, 2022

To be fair, this wasn't originally a 3-1 lead, it was actually a 3-0 lead. And no team, and no coach, has ever blown that lead before. Not yet, anyway.