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HoopsHype

Doc Rivers on Ben Simmons’ situation: ‘It’s all posturing’

“It’s all posturing. That’s why you haven’t heard me – I don’t get involved in all that stuff. I’ll leave that up to the front office and Ben’s camp. I’m staying out of that part. But, listen, some of this stuff I laugh at and I feel bad. I think Ben’s a good kid. I want Ben to do well.”
Source: Tom Moore @ Bucks County Courier-Times

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers story: Doc Rivers on Ben Simmons: ‘There’s nobody that’s been more supportive than me. I have a tape someone sent me of almost an hour of me over and over (praising him)’ https://t.co/AEvTyXJF9g #NBA pic.twitter.com/eyzPBpV9NM10:10 PM
KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Heat lose at Toronto, their 3rd straight L.
Bulls can lead East outright—and improve Billy Donovan’s chances to coach All-Star game—with a victory.
76ers coach Doc Rivers, whose team trails Bulls by 1/2-game and visits Sunday, isn’t eligible because he coached last yr – 9:57 PM
Noah Levick @NoahLevick
No surprises here: Tyrese Maxey is officially one of 12 sophomore players chosen for the Rising Stars Challenge by NBA assistant coaches.
Maxey’s the first Rising Star selection for the Sixers since Ben Simmons in 2019. – 7:15 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Report: Ben Simmons ignored Doc Rivers’ calls and texts, frustrated that 76ers coach didn’t visit anyway nba.nbcsports.com/2022/02/01/rep…6:00 PM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Andre Drummond has proven himself to be a solid free agency pickup. Doc Rivers is feeling lucky to have him on the roster. #Sixers sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/02/01/doc… via @SixersWire4:36 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Ben Simmons remains at impasse with 76ers, will forfeit $32 million if he sits out full season, per report
cbssports.com/nba/news/ben-s…3:15 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
Exclusive #NBA story on Doc Rivers’ reaction to the latest from the #Sixers’ Ben Simmons: ‘Some of this stuff I laugh at … The people that can’t (handle the truth) probably don’t handle me well. And I don’t lose an ounce of sleep over it’ https://t.co/awaUELQT1V #76ersPreview pic.twitter.com/YJQhpTkA4E3:13 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
It’s February, so screw it, let’s make some trade deadline predictions.
Won’t get traded: Ben Simmons, Jerami Grant, Harrison Barnes, any notable Pacers.
Will get traded: C.J. McCollum (Pelicans), Eric Gordon (Cavs), John Collins (destination unclear), Kenrich Williams (Bulls). – 2:28 PM
Jake Madison @NOLAJake
The source on the Ben Simmons piece is very clearly Klutch and even they are like look we tried to get Ben to listen and he wouldn’t.
Ignoring all the texts and calls and then being upset someone doesn’t show up is just Ben not getting it. – 2:24 PM
The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
Ben Simmons has been fined $19 million by the 76ers so far this season.
Simmons could lose another $12 million if he refuses to play this year.
➡️ https://t.co/60K9cfgcZN pic.twitter.com/GUhocTJ2hj2:01 PM
Sopan Deb @SopanDeb
So Ben Simmons is upset that Doc Rivers didn’t show up unannounced to a gym he worked out at after ignoring several of Doc’s entreaties?
https://t.co/HtxuDuI8We pic.twitter.com/ve0rbyckDC12:24 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Report: 76ers have fined Ben Simmons more than $19M – and counting nba.nbcsports.com/2022/02/01/rep…12:14 PM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Every time people around Ben Simmons try to tell his side of the story, they only end up showing they don’t understand the problem at hand phillyvoice.com/ben-simmons-la…12:08 PM
Ramona Shelburne @ramonashelburne
Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers are stuck in a moment. espn.com/nba/insider/in…11:51 AM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Ben Simmons reportedly fined $19 million since season started sportando.basketball/en/ben-simmons…11:45 AM
Jon Johnson @jonjohnsonwip
Correct me of I’m wrong, but didn’t Ben Simmons have the second worst +/- in the Raptors series, while Joel Embiid had by far the best?
And Ben’s stat line was nothing to gloat about. – 11:40 AM
Jon Johnson @jonjohnsonwip
Would like to thank Ben Simmons. If not for his thin skin, being incredibly selfish, the Sixers would not know what they have in Tyrese Maxey. – 10:25 AM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
There was a controversial non-call on Seth Curry at the end of the 4th which caused Doc Rivers to get a technical foul. He and the team react to what happened in the win at home. #Sixers sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/31/doc… via @SixersWire11:34 PM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Doc Rivers on Ja Morant’s unreal finishes: “I kept telling our guys, ‘Don’t overreact. His two points seem like they’re more than two.’ And we talked about that at halftime, like, ‘OK, I know it’s an amazing shot, but I swear to God he only gets two points for them.'” – 10:30 PM
Justin Grasso @JGrasso_
Tyrese Maxey says Doc Rivers reminded the team this morning that the #Grizzlies bullied the #Sixers the last time they played each other. So they were really motivated to get back at them tonight – 10:01 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers: ‘Any win without your best player is important with any team.’ – 9:51 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers: ‘I hate getting a tech there (at the end of regulation).’ – 9:51 PM
Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Doc Rivers: “Lot of grit. … It’s a good group. The guys like each other.” – 9:50 PM
Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
Doc Rivers on this @Philadelphia 76ers team:
“Guys like each other. They like playing with each other. It’s a good group. They like each other.” – 9:50 PM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Doc Rivers on whether he saw these sort of games coming for Maxey looking at things last offseason: “I don’t know. I know one thing: Tyrese, downhill, against anybody” – 9:50 PM
Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
Doc Rivers on @Tyrese Maxey tonight:
“I know one thing:
Tyrese downhill, against anybody.” – 9:49 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers: ‘We felt good about our chances to get downhill tonight.’ Tyrese Maxey led the way on they department – 9:48 PM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Doc Rivers says this was the best passing game for Tyrese Maxey today. He had 8 assists on the night with his 33 points. #Sixers9:46 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
only Doc Rivers could start an overtime down by a point. – 9:30 PM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Doc Rivers just drew a tech for his reaction to the no-call on Seth Curry to end regulation – 9:22 PM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Doc Rivers is irate over no foul call there on the Seth Curry shot. He’s still yelling at the official. Game is going to overtime tied at 111. #Sixers9:20 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
Doc Rivers isn’t too pleased with Andre Drummond (14 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists). Talked to him coming off court during timeout. #Sixers9:06 PM
Joe Mullinax @sbnGrizzlies
5-0 run to start the quarter and Doc Rivers calls timeout just 56 seconds in with the game tied – 8:24 PM
Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers on what determined that tonight’s game vs. #Memphis would be a planned rest day for Joel Embiid: “I really don’t get that much involved in it, to be honest with you. They come and present their calendar…. – 6:04 PM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Doc Rivers compared the Grizzlies to the Cincinnati Bengals. That’s becoming a popular comparison. – 5:57 PM
Lauren Rosen @LaurenMRosen
Doc Rivers on Joel Embiid’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week selection:
“Not surprised. He deserves it. Hopefully there’s many more.” – 5:25 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers: The #Grizzlies ‘remind you a little of the #Bengals). They’re brash.’ – 5:24 PM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Doc Rivers said the 2021-22 Grizzlies remind him of the Grit-and-Grind era teams.
“It’s the athletic version of what they had before. A lot of tough guys.” – 5:23 PM
Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Doc Rivers said the Grizzlies “kind of remind you of the Bengals.” – 5:23 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers: Center Andre Drummond’s penchant for trying risky passes comes from ‘irrational confidence.’ – 5:22 PM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Doc Rivers on resting Joel Embiid today:
“They thought this was the right day with the amount of rest we can get him, so that’s why they did.” – 5:20 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers: ‘(Sports science people) pointed to this game’ for Joel Embiid to rest tonight. Furkan Korkmaz is out. – 5:20 PM
Justin Grasso @JGrasso_
Furkan Korkmaz is out tonight, per Doc Rivers #Sixers5:19 PM
Noah Levick @NoahLevick
Furkan Korkmaz (left knee soreness) is out, Doc Rivers says. – 5:19 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Jay Scrubb getting the Doc Rivers x rookie T Mann end of quarter tribute seconds – 1:41 PM

More on this storyline

Rivers learned Tuesday from a story by ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, citing sources close to the Sixers’ embattled Ben Simmons, that Simmons is “frustrated that Rivers didn’t come to see him while he was training in Los Angeles” despite ignoring numerous text messages and calls from Rivers, as well as telling some of his Philadelphia teammates not to fly out to talk to him. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that,” Rivers told the Bucks County Courier Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Tuesday afternoon. “There’s nobody that’s been more supportive than me. I have a tape someone sent me of almost an hour of me over and over (praising Simmons). You heard me last year every day. -via Bucks County Courier-Times / February 2, 2022
“I feel pretty good, and I don’t think we’ve played our best basketball yet. We still got a long way to go. We’re missing guys here and there that could really help us. There’s really no urgency to change anything. I think we got everything we need. We’re gonna keep on going and I’m happy.” -via ESPN / January 15, 2022

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