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Is Doc Rivers the answer for the Philadelphia 76ers?

By Pete Sawan

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 13: Head Coach Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers directs his team during the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 13, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 13: Head Coach Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers directs his team during the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on February 13, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

The Good

Winning an NBA championship is no small task for anyone, let alone a head coach. It takes leadership, expertise, and overall excellence in order to win gold in the NBA. One aspect of coaching that some seem to ignore is the idea of managing personalities. The NBA is a players’ league, meaning that star-power can dictate the direction a franchise heads in.

With that comes the science of keeping egos in check, and getting the most out of marginal talent. The Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of star-power in Simmons and Embiid and could very well use that sort of leadership from a head coach.

Rivers had to manage the likes of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, both of whom were at the top of their games. While these two were great players in their own right, the wrong coach could have simply lost the room, and egotistic tendencies could have prevented them from working in a cohesive manner.

Looking at the straight-up wins and losses, Rivers posts a career win/loss record of 943-681. This gives him a win/loss percentage of 58.1. For what it’s worth, the regular season is a grind, and Rivers knows how to keep his players engaged enough to earn a higher playoff seed. It’s definitely something to think about when hiring a head coach.