The Philadelphia 76ers, and really the entire league, are going through a tough time to open the 2021-22 season as they are dealing with a COVID outbreak where players are entering the health and safety protocols regularly.
The Sixers were hit heavily by it earlier in the season and they are dealing with it again right now as they are missing key reserve Georges Niang. The versatile veteran forward is averaging 10.4 points and shooting 38% from deep off their bench so they are missing the veteran forward as he is in the health and safety protocols.
“He’s embarrassed by it, he’s mad,” said coach Doc Rivers. “He doesn’t know how he got it. So it’s amazing, the same thing you get from almost everyone who gets it, they’re frustrated because they feel like they’re trying to do the right stuff and they get it.”
The big key for the Sixers is making sure they don’t have another outbreak. They want to be able to keep this to just one case and have their focus be on Niang to get him back and healthy again while they try and get through without him.
“Then his first worry is, does anyone else have it?” Rivers added. “That’s everyone’s first question because they don’t want to be that guy, you know? But he’s doing alright. It hasn’t hit him yet. A lot of guys, it doesn’t hit them right away. So hopefully, he goes to through a mild case. That would be great.”
The Sixers will take on the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday as they look to bounce back from a bad loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday at home.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
[listicle id=56044]
[lawrence-related id=56057,56054,56021]