Daryl Morey explains why Doc Rivers will be back to coach Sixers
CAMDEN, N.J. — As the Philadelphia 76ers try and pick up the pieces following another second-round exit from the playoffs, another question that needs to be answered is the status of coach Doc Rivers.
Rivers has built a Hall of Fame resume as a coach, but he has not been able to reach expectations during his time in Philadelphia. He led the team to the No. 1 seed in the 2020-21 season for the first time in 20 years and he led the team through a very turbulent 2021-22 season that included the Ben Simmons saga, a ton of injuries, and COVID issues, and a blockbuster trade.
The result was the same, however. They lost in the second round in both seasons at home. It was Game 7 at home in 2021 and Game 6 at home in 2022. Either way, it was rumored that the Sixers would look into replacing Rivers with Mike D’Antoni who has experience with both James Harden and Daryl Morey.
Morey put those rumors to rest on Friday as he and the Sixers look to move on.
“He’s a great coach,” said Morey. “I love working with him. I feel like I’m learning from him. I think Elton (Brand) and I and him make a great team and we’re gonna see where this journey takes us, but we feel very good about where it’s gonna take us. It’s gonna be where we have a very good chance to win the title.”
The Sixers have obvious talent here. Joel Embiid is a perennial MVP candidate, James Harden can still be a productive player, and guys like Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris can still be helpful out on the floor.
It just hasn’t been enough and that is where the focus turns to Rivers and why they haven’t been able to get the job done under his watch.
“Winning’s hard,” said Rivers. “You just don’t just show up and ‘OK guys! We’re moving on!’ it’s hard. We’re not the only organization. Winning is hard to move on. We had an opportunity last year, didn’t get it done. This year was tough, obviously, with all the injuries and stuff so the answers are easy. It’s hard.”
Philadelphia will now look to again build and grow from a tough playoff loss and look to be better as they move ahead with Embiid and Harden as their duo.
“We’re right there,” Rivers continued. “We’ve put ourselves in the argument and that’s all you can do. Then you come back and keep working at it until you get over the mountain and just because you want us to advance doesn’t mean ‘OK, it happens’. Milwaukee, you look at them, it took them three years to get over the mountain. They kept failing and then they did and that just the way it works.”
Rivers and the Sixers will try and get over that mountain again in the 2022-23 season.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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