Joel Embiid endorses Doc Rivers after Sixers’ Game 7 loss to Celtics

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BOSTON–The Philadelphia 76ers are once again eliminated in the semifinals. After seeing a 3-2 lead slip away, with Game 6 at home, they fell to the Boston Celtics 112-88 in Game 7 on the road as they have not been ousted in the second round for three consecutive seasons.

Undoubtedly, rumors will fly. Coach Doc Rivers will have a microscope on him as there will be rumors and reports that the Sixers will move on from him after three seasons on the job. It’s just the nature of the business.

With that being said, Rivers does have two years left on his deal and his expectation is that he will be back roaming the sidelines in the 2023-24 season.

“Yeah,” said Rivers. “I think I got two years left, so.”

With that being said, there have been successful coaches being fired all around the league. The Milwaukee Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer two seasons after guiding the Bucks to the title and the Phoenix Suns fired Monty Williams who led the Suns to the finals in 2021 and then the best record in the league in the 2021-22 season.

“No one’s safe in our business,” Rivers added. “And I get that.”

Rivers does, however, have an endorsement from MVP Joel Embiid.

“I thought he’s done a fantastic job,” Embiid said of Rivers. “He came in, I think we’ve gotten better over the years, I thought he’s done a great job and I don’t make the decisions. I think he should be fine. We got a great relationship and you look at the way he handled the whole situation that we had a year or two ago, I thought he kept the team afloat. He’s been a great leader for all of us. A great motivator.”

Rivers has guided the Sixers to a 154-82 record in his three seasons on the job. That’s good for a .653 winning percentage. He has done a terrific job in terms of leading the Sixers and having them in a great position, but falling short in the playoffs leaves a bad mark on his resume and that leads to coaches losing their jobs, unfortunately.

“Then again, you look at what’s been happening all over the league, it’s tough, but then again, I’m glad I don’t make those decisions, but I think all those guys, they deserve to have jobs,” Embiid added. “Coach Monty does a great job. He’s a great coach and I think he’s done a fantastic job. You look at his team, I think he’s gotten the best of all those guys. Coach Bud from Milwaukee, winning a championship, he did the best job he could”

Rivers has done a terrific job as coach of the Sixers. He has guided them through some tough moments such as the Ben Simmons situation and working James Harden into things while also getting the most out of guys.

“At the end of the day, maybe GM’s and owners, they have a different mindset,” Embiid finished. “Sometimes, change is good. Maybe that’s what they believe, but as far as us, I’m just glad I don’t make those decisions and that’s not my job and that’s out of my payroll, but coach has been fantastic and he’s done a great job in my opinion.”

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