The Philadelphia 76ers are going home early once again after the team field to live up to expectations in the NBA playoffs, with the Boston Celtics coming out on top with a historic game-seven performance by Jayson Tatum.
With the 76ers blowing a 3–2 series lead, the attention will turn to whether the team is ready to part ways with veteran head coach Doc Rivers.
As we’ve seen in the NBA playoffs over the past few weeks, no head coaching job in the league is safe, with Mike Budenholzer recently being fired by the Milwaukee Bucks after a disappointing first-round exit and the Phoenix Suns being the latest team to fire their head coach in parting ways with Monty Williams.
Skip Bayless of Fox Sports believes this was the last straw for Rivers in Philadelphia, as it will only be a matter of time before the team makes a change at head coach.
That's it. As much as I love Doc, I don't see how he survives this. This is his seventh blown 3-2 series lead. Never won a Game 7. Never seems to DO anything to break or create momentum. Just shrugs and says, "It's a make-or-miss league."
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 14, 2023
With two former NBA Coach of the Year award winners getting the boot after their playoff exits, it would be surprising to see the 76ers not fire Rivers at this point.
Last year, Rivers was taking a lot of heat, and many believed he was done as the head coach of Philadelphia, with players seemingly sick of listening to the one-time NBA champion and wanting a new voice in the locker room leading the way.
It’d be safe to assume that the 76ers brass will decide quickly, with so many big-name head coaches available on the open market and having to compete for their services with the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks.
NEXT: Doc Rivers Comments On His Coaching Future With 76ers
