Doc Rivers is the one to fall on the sword.
The Philadelphia 76ers fired Rivers on Tuesday after three seasons as head coach simply two days after an embarrassing exit from the playoffs. The 61-year-old led the Sixers into the second spherical in all of his seasons however by no means superior into the Eastern Conference Finals.
“We’re grateful for all he did in his three seasons here and thank him for the important impact he made on our franchise,” workforce president Daryl Morey mentioned in a press release. “After having the chance to reflect upon our season, we decided that certain changes are necessary to further our goals of competing for a championship.”
Rivers’ final act in control of the 76ers was their disastrous 112-88 Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics which featured a traditionally dangerous 10-point third quarter that tied an NBA-shot clock period document for the fewest factors scored in a postseason quarter. The loss was Rivers’ tenth Game 7 lack of his profession which is 5 greater than every other coach in NBA historical past.
The head coach mentioned Sunday he anticipated to be again with two years remaining on his contract.
“Yeah. I think I got two years left. No one is safe in our business and I get that,” Rivers mentioned.
The 76ers have been 54-28 this season — proudly owning the East’s No. 3 seed — and have skilled loads of common season success throughout Rivers’ tenure, nevertheless, they haven’t been in a position to recover from the hump within the playoffs.
Rivers finishes with a 154-82 (.659) document as head coach in Philadelphia. The longtime bench boss joined the Sixers after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Chicago native was named one of many 15 biggest coaches in NBA historical past in 2021-22 and has gained one NBA championship (2007-2008 Celtics) in 24 seasons as a coach. Overall, he’s 1,097-763 in his profession that started in 1999-2000 as the top coach of the Orlando Magic, the season he gained his one and solely Coach of the Year award after his rookie season.
Now, James Harden and 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid’s squad are out there for a brand new captain of the ship. Harden was requested after Sunday’s loss if he had a great relationship with Rivers and if he needed him to stay the top coach.
Harden responded by saying their relationship is “OK,” nevertheless, he didn’t acknowledge the second a part of the query. The 33-year-old averaged 21 factors and a career-high 10.7 assists per recreation in his first full season with the Sixers after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets for Ben Simmons in February 2022.
The seek for a head coach in Philadelphia already features a huge record of names. Mike Budenholzer, Sam Cassell, Mike D’Antoni, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel and Monty Williams are all within the working to take over, in accordance with ESPN
Budenholzer was simply canned by the Milwaukee Bucks after their first-round loss because the No. 1 seed to the No. 8 seed Miami Heat — who ultimately superior into the Conference Finals for the third time within the final 4 seasons. The Phoenix Suns additionally simply moved on from Williams after falling within the second spherical to the Denver Nuggets. D’Antoni is an attention-grabbing candidate as Harden had his 2018-19 MVP season — 36.1 factors and seven.5 assists per recreation — underneath his system when he was the top coach of the Houston Rockets
The remainder of the candidates additionally personal head teaching expertise except Cassell who has by no means acquired the prospect to be on the helm.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com