Is Doc Rivers the Right Coach for the Philadelphia 76ers?

Days after being fired by the Clippers, Doc Rivers has signed a multi year deal to coach the Philadelphia 76ers.

Thursday reports confirmed that Doc Rivers will replace Brett Brown, who was fired after seven seasons.

Brett Brown helped to rebuild the 76ers, who haven’t won a championship since 1983. While the franchise respects Brown, continued lack of postseason success was the reason for his firing. Philadelphia made the decision after it was swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics.

Doc Rivers was approached quickly after a somewhat surprising parting of the ways with Los Angeles.

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In his LA tenure, they had the fifth-best regular season record by a team without a conference finals appearance, 356-208. 

LA, which hasn’t had a Conference Finals appearance in 50 years, was tipped to reach the Championship Finals this year.

Rivers coached them to 49-23 in the regular season, the fourth best record in franchise history. 

However, it blew a 3 – 1 lead against the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Semifinals. Rivers has gone 3 – 8 in playoff series deciding games, which is the worst record for a coach with a single team.

The 76ers will hope that Rivers can enhance the project built around All-Star due Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

Read: Lakers Come Back To Win Game 1 After Slow Start

“I’m excited for Doc and for the Sixers,” said Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr. 

“He’s a great coach, and as I mentioned the other day, great for the league. So I’m happy that he’s quickly back in the NBA. He’s important for the league and for the rest of the coaches.”

He will be reunited with forward Tobias Harris, who enjoyed his best season under Rivers.