NBA Rumors: Will Sixers’ Doc Rivers be the first coach fired?

Could Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers be the scapegoat for the team’s slow start?

After somewhat of a disappointing showing in the NBA playoffs last season, it was a bit surprising when the Philadelphia 76ers elected to keep Doc Rivers as teams head coach heading in to the 20 22–23 NBA season. I suppose the front office gave the six as a pass for all the injuries that they were battling towards the end of last season, that they decided to give Rivers another shot with this core.

However, now that the Sixers have gotten off to a 1-4 start to this season, you can’t help but wonder if the front office may end up circling back to that original decision to retain the Rivers.

Philadelphia is relatively healthy to start the season and there really isn’t much to blame for the team’s lack of success to start the season other than philosophy and scheme. Looking at the roster on paper, this is a team that should be better than their 1–4 record to start the year.

The Philadelphia 76ers have fallen short of expectations so far this season

Let’s also remember that many predicted before the season that the Sixers would be a contender in the Eastern Conference. Right now, they’ve been everything but that.

And there are already whispers that Rivers could be on the hot seat. That’s not to say that it’s something that is being discussed inside the organization but it could be something that comes up if the Sixers aren’t able to figure things out sooner rather than later.

The Sixers enter the season with high expectations. This was not a team that was expected to be a first or second round exit in the playoffs. For the most part, the expectation was that the Sixers would/could make a deep run in the playoffs.

And, if healthy, this team had enough talent to compete with the best of the best in the conference, and to potentially finally break through and make it to the NBA Finals.

Often times, what’s most frustrating for teams that begin the season in an underwhelming manner. The talent is place is in place for the Sixers, and so is the depth, especially after the moves that the team made during the offseason.

The questions are going to fall squarely on the shoulders of Rivers and his staff. If the Sixers can’t turn their season around over the next few weeks, it’ll be interesting to see what the next move is for the front office.

This is not a season that this team can simply throw away, and I have to believe that everything will be on the table (including a possible head-coaching change) if the Sixers continue to fall short of expectations.