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NBA Rumors: 76ers 'Committed' to Doc Rivers as HC Despite Playoff Exit vs. Heat
May 14, 2022
The Philadelphia 76ers reportedly have no plans to replace Doc Rivers as their head coach, per Chris B. Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
"The Philadelphia 76ers do not plan to meet with Doc Rivers to discuss his future and maintains the franchise is committed to the head coach and will work with him to improve the roster," Haynes reported Saturday.
Rivers has led the 76ers for two seasons, amassing a 100-54 regular-season record along the way. Philadelphia has fallen in the Eastern Conference semifinals in each of Rivers' two campaigns, including a 4-2 series loss to the Miami Heat this year.
The 2020-21 76ers looked like strong championship contenders after finishing first in the Eastern Conference standings, but the Atlanta Hawks upset them in the second round.
That would be the last time that three-time All-Star Ben Simmons played in Philadelphia, and he was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal that brought back James Harden on Feb. 10, 2021.
That move did not pan out this year. Harden struggled for much of his 76ers stint, shooting just 36.3 percent in his final 17 regular-season games.
The 76ers now have a decision to make on Harden, who has a 2022-23 player option and can become a free agent in 2023, about whether they should extend him long-term.
That seems to be the biggest question facing the 76ers if Rivers isn't going anywhere. Ultimately, the roster questions around Embiid need to be answered. The 76ers didn't have the offensive firepower to hang with the Heat, especially when Embiid was out injured.
That has to be addressed this offseason, and it appears Rivers will be on board alongside general manager Daryl Morey to figure out solutions and hopefully get past the conference-semifinals roadblock that has been in Philadelphia's way since 2001.