After a disheartening Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the Philadelphia 76ers had to make a change. The loss marked their third consecutive exit in the Eastern Conference semifinals and the fifth time in the past six seasons they have been ousted in the second round.
That means changes in leadership.
The Sixers front office clearly believes a new voice needs to be heard going forward. The franchise parted ways with coach Doc Rivers on Tuesday after three seasons. He had a 154-82 record, a .653 winning percentage, with Philadelphia, but he wasn’t able to guide the Sixers to the deep playoff run they expected.
BREAKING: The 76ers dismissed coach Doc Rivers on Tuesday, sources tell ESPN. Rivers led the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in each of his three seasons on the job. pic.twitter.com/WM0t4LhrAz
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 16, 2023
When one looks back on the Rivers era, it will be filled with missed opportunities. They were the No. 1 seed in 2021 before falling to the Atlanta Hawks. They had their chances against the Miami Heat in 2022 and the Celtics in 2023. Philadelphia held a 3-2 lead in the series against Boston, but dropped Game 6 at home before falling in Game 7.
Did Rivers deserve to get fired? Probably. Just because of the playoff failures and this is a performance-based industry. There is no question, however, that he made a positive impact on Joel Embiid and the roster.
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