Sixers

Doc Rivers Asked About “All Bench” Lineups in Playoffs, Doesn’t Give an Inspiring Answer

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Apr 6th, 2023 · 9:47 AM EDT

---

Oh God:

Doc Rivers discusses the possibility of running an all-bench lineup in the playoffs on ESPN this morning: pic.twitter.com/RvxjKlUF5Q

— Sixerdaily (@Sixerdaily) April 5, 2023

If the Sixers go out in the second round again, our collective epitaph will say “All Bench.” No names, no dates, no messages on the tombstone. It will just say “RIP: All Bench.” That’s what did us in, the Niang, Milton, McDaniels, Reed, and Melton/Tucker lineup, which entered game 7 against Boston with a 75-69 lead and then exited the floor down 82-77.

At face value, this is a rather innocuous answer from Doc, but it allows a contentious topic to linger. He’s got Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris on this roster. In a contemporary postseason where first round rotations are 9-10 guys and second-round rotations are 7-9, depending on how deep in a series you are, there’s no justifiable reason to play all bench, ever. Brett Brown didn’t play all bench. When you go back to game 7 against the Raptors, Mike Scott played 11 minutes off the bench, James Ennis 14, and Greg Monroe two (excruciating minutes). Every starter went 40+ in that game, as it should be.

Anyway, let’s hope and pray for no all bench lineups from now until eternity.