76ers fire Doc Rivers following 7 game series loss to Celtics

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

I wrote about Doc briefly on Twitter last week:

Not a fan of Doc Rivers bashing by fans. He's the lone coach to bring us a title in the past 37 yrs

If you're a C's fan who calls out other C's fans when they are ever critical of current players/coaches but then bash former players/coaches you're not the great fan u think u are pic.twitter.com/UH4t2pkPac

— CelticsLife.com (@celticslife) May 12, 2023

Thre of the last four coaches to win NBA championships have now been fired and 2-time Coach of the Year Monty Williams also received his pink slip this week. Coaches are the first to get blame when a team doesn't win. If Philly had won Game 6 or 7, many Celtics fans and radio/tv people would be calling for his dismissal.

The 76ers brought in Doc Rivers to help the team get over the 2nd round hump and he was unable. Most of it had to do with Ben Simmons change from an All-NBA player to an oft-injured player who was dealing with mental issues and wanted out.

Rivers developed 2020 #21 overall draft pick Tyrese Maxey into a lead guard with All-Star potential and oversaw Joel Embiid developing into an MVP player. Unfortunately for the 76ers they bet wrong on who to let go the summer as Jimmy Butler was the guy to keep.

Neither Simmons or James Harden was able to fill the #1 role the team needed from a perimeter player. In fact Rivers departure is partly due to the rumor that James Harden's decision whether to re-sign with Philly this summer hinged on whether Doc remained or not. Harden was not a fan of his. Harden was also not a fan of playing for the Nets and Rockets, his two last employers. If Rivers remained with Philly, Harden was rumored to actually want to return to the rebuilding Rockets, owners of the 2022-23 worst record in the NBA.

In addition to Simmons, Philadelphia traded Doc's son-in-law Seth Curry and a 1st rounder in the Harden deal.

Will add more to this post a little later tonight.