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The Philadelphia 76ers surpassed the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Now, they're set to take on the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. However, the Sixers are extremely shorthanded for at least their first two road games. Joel Embiid suffered an orbital fracture and mild concussion in Game 6 and is out indefinitely.
If there's anything to take away from the city of Philadelphia, it's this: teams never go out without a fight. While the Sixers aren't in an ideal situation, Doc Rivers has a plan. The head coach revealed his plan to hold down the fort while the big man rests.
NBC Sports Philadelphia reporter Noah Levick tweeted the news Saturday afternoon.
Doc Rivers says Sixers will play “center by committee” w/o Joel Embiid, that they “may need all four” backup center options.
He expects Tobias Harris to spend time on Lowry, Butler, Adebayo throughout the series, sees Harris as possibly another five option vs. small lineups.
— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) April 30, 2022
Rivers said that the plan is to play “center by committee” with the pieces in the regular-season bench rotation. The four centers Rivers mentioned includes Paul Reed, DeAndre Jordan, Paul Millsap and Charles Bassey.
Out of the four, only Reed has recorded minutes in the 2022 NBA Playoffs so far. He came off the bench for Embiid in all of the Sixers' five games against Toronto. That being said, Reed will likely be the main piece of the center rotation.
Meanwhile, Tobias Harris is expected to get take on the star players on the Heat, including center Bam Adebayo. Rivers also said he could be a part of the center rotation, taking some of the pressure off of the less experienced bench pieces.
The Sixers vs Heat Eastern Conference Semifinals series begins with Game 1 Monday night in Miami.
