CAMDEN, N.J. — As the Philadelphia 76ers get set to face the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday, the matchup features familiar faces on both sides.
For the Sixers, they will face former shooting guard Seth Curry, who was a part of the deal that sent Ben Simmons to the Nets and James Harden to Philadelphia. Curry shot 42.6% from deep in 102 games with the Sixers across two seasons and in two games against Philadelphia, Curry shot 56.3% from deep as a member of the Nets.
Curry also happens to be coach Doc Rivers’ son-in-law, so this will be a family affair. When the series shifts to Brooklyn, Rivers will be able to see his grandkids, but he also understands the awkwardness of hanging with the enemy in the middle of a playoff series.
“I wish Seth wasn’t there when I went to see them,” Rivers laughed. “He’s the enemy right now. That’s what we have to make him, but, yeah, when we go to Brooklyn, it’s nice the night before. I don’t think that’s ever happened. Where it is a strange component because in the playoffs you are a little — I don’t know what the word would be — but you don’t like the opponent as much. I think we can say it that way. So I’m gonna have to put that in some kind of compartment that I haven’t thought about doing yet.”
Curry has been dealing with injuries that limited him to 61 games, but he still shot 40.5% from deep in his first full season with the Nets.
Rivers joked he will try to talk to Curry about any secrets the Nets will have in this series against the Sixers. If that doesn’t work, he’ll try to talk to his granddaughter.
“Well, I’m gonna ask some for sure,” he added with a smile. “I’m gonna see if I can get something out of him, but Seth rarely talks. So I’m pretty sure I’m not gonna get anything out of him, but I’m gonna ask my granddaughter. Maybe she talks to him and she can tell me some stuff! You never know.”
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