The Philadelphia 76ers had their playoff dreams dashed for the third consecutive NBA season in the Eastern Conference semifinal. This time, it was at the hands of the Boston Celtics, who won Game 7 on their home court after a dominant third quarter.
The feeling was a somber one in the locker room, as there is some uncertainty about the direction of the franchise. James Harden’s looming free agency is something that has garnered a lot of attention, as many predict him to opt out of his contract and hit free agency. If that occurs, the Houston Rockets are a popular landing spot for him on the rumor mill.
While Harden may not intend to remain in Philadelphia, one person who does is head coach Doc Rivers. Following the loss on Sunday afternoon, he let it be known that he intends to return for the 2023-24 season, saying he has two years remaining on his contract.
“We played great all year,” Rivers said, “and this loss absolutely diminishes that, what we did this year, in some ways.”
When asked about his relationship with Rivers and whether he should be back next season, Harden responded with, “Our relationship is OK.” That isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for Rivers, as Harden sounds like a player who has one foot out the door already despite saying he hasn’t even thought about it yet.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Doc Rivers & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
MVP Joel Embiid, however, is on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to his feelings about Rivers. “Coach has been fantastic and he’s done a great job, in my opinion,” Embiid said.
Rivers knows that the coaching business is a tough one. “No one’s safe in our business, I get that,” Rivers said. He would be correct with that assessment.
Mike Budenholzer and Nick Nurse were both fired this offseason by the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors, respectively, despite winning championships in 2021 and 2019. Monty Williams was also relieved of his duties as head coach of the Phoenix Suns after losing to Budenholzer’s Bucks in 2021 and making the playoffs three straight years.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Doc Rivers & Philadelphia 76ers Updates
As head coach, Rivers has been a part of 16 Game 7s. His record in those games is 6-10, giving him twice as many as the next closest head coach in terms of losses. There is certainly a chance that the 76ers brass opts to make a change as the continued disappointment in Philadelphia is a lot to overcome.
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