BREAKING: 76ers Part Ways with Head Coach Doc Rivers
Sports and Music Editor Will Lyons gives you the break down on the end of the Doc Rivers era in Philly.
Doc Rivers finds himself as the latest coach in the unemployment line. The veteran coach was tasked with getting the Philadelphia 76ers to the next level and out of ‘The Process”. Rivers is well respected due to his long time as a head coach and for being the coach of the 2008 Celtics. The 08 Celtics were known for their legendary battles with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol’s Los Angeles Laker, and for finally getting NBA legends Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen rings.
Back-to-back finals appearances and one ring are what is referenced by the masses, but there is much more to Doc’s career. Rivers led teams have been known for monumental letdowns since he was coaching Tracy McGrady in Orlando in the early 2000’s. Fast forward to his time with the Lob City Clippers and you see the pattern of talented teams squandering opportunities.
The 76ers looked poised to eliminate the Boston Celtics before dropping games 6 and 7. The losses were bad, but it is the way the 76ers went out that was the bigger issue. Doc Rivers is the odd man out at this point but the epic game 7 loss lays on his players. League MVP and former MVP James Harden had one of the worst efforts in an elimination game in league history, along with Jayson Tatum doing his prime Larry Bird impression, scoring an elimination game record 51 points.
Rivers is a coach that is tied to tremendous regular season success (record in Philly 154–82 (.653)) and annual playoff disappointment but I do believe he is partially being scapegoated here. Philly needs to also part ways with James Harden as he is well known for coming up short with the season on the line.
Expect the 76ers coaching search to involve a long list of coaches that have recently parted ways with their former teams. The list of suspected candidates includes Mike Budenholzer, Sam Cassell, Mike D’Antoni, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel and Monty Williams.
