3 NBA coaches who are on the hot seat following slow starts
By Zain Siddiqi
NBA coaches on the hot seat No. 1: Doc Rivers, Philadelphia 76ers
This is perhaps the most obvious one to address. The Philadelphia 76ers were being vaunted by many before the season started as a Finals pick out of the Eastern Conference. With additions like P.J. Tucker, De’Anthony Melton, and Montrezl Harrell, on top of the revelation of James Harden’s weight loss, the Sixers were looking like a top East contender. As of November 11th, they sit 5-7 and 12th in the East
The early returns have been far from impressive. Doc Rivers was reportedly on the hot seat for most of last year, with some questionable schematic choices present throughout the year. James Harden’s injury may have bought Doc some breathing room, but the Sixers looked far from good even before Harden’s injury.
The play style looked much like the old Harden Rockets, with heliocentric play draining out the shot clock and a lack of utilization of a near MVP in Joel Embiid and star guard Tyrese Maxey. The disappointing play has certainly created more disillusion in Doc Rivers.