The Sixers have confidence in coach Doc Rivers to lead the team to a title now that James Harden has been paired up with Joel Embiid, a source tells Marc Stein (Substack link). Philadelphia hasn’t won an NBA championship in 39 years and Rivers has a recent history of playoff disappointments, but team officials believe he can oversee the new partnership.
Shortly after the trade with the Nets was completed, Stein heard rumors that the Sixers might be considering Mike D’Antoni, who coached Harden for four years in Houston. D’Antoni is currently serving as a coaching advisor to the Pelicans after spending last season with Harden as an assistant in Brooklyn.
However, Stein’s source insists that Rivers’ job is safe, saying he gained admiration from ownership and the front office with the way he guided the team through the distractions caused by Ben Simmons‘ absence.
Stein offers more inside information from around the league:
- Goran Dragic met with the Nets on Friday as he considers his next team following a buyout with the Spurs. Coach Steve Nash served as a mentor when Dragic entered the NBA with the Suns and has been the team’s lead recruiter for the free agent guard. Along with Brooklyn, Stein cites the Bucks, Bulls, Warriors and Clippers as the top suitors for Dragic. He’s been “really open-minded” to the offers from each team, a source tells Stein.
- Magic veterans Gary Harris and Robin Lopez haven’t pushed for buyouts so far, according to Stein’s sources, who add that Harris may want to stay in Orlando in hopes of re-signing during the offseason. There was talk that Lopez might join his brother in Milwaukee after a buyout, Stein states, but the recent additions of Greg Monroe and Serge Ibaka may have quelled the Bucks‘ interest (though Monroe’s most recent 10-day contract has expired). Golden State may need another center for the playoffs, and Stein sees Lopez as a potential “home run” for the Warriors if he becomes available.
- Small guarantees for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans in the final year of their contracts motivated the Mavericks to acquire them in last week’s trade for Kristaps Porzingis. Dinwiddie has just a $10MM guarantee on his $18.9MM salary for 2023/24, while Bertans carries a $5MM guarantee on his $16MM salary for 2024/25. Dallas is hoping those limited guarantees will make both contracts easier to trade.
I give Doc Rivers grade A in regular seasons
2020-21
2021-22
Grade F in postseasons.
It seems like Doc Rivers gets consistently outcoached in the post season (I wouldn’t call this choking). Every team’s strategic game planning changes drastically game by game in the playoffs but Doc doesn’t adjust to this as nimbly as is needed.
I also think that Mike D’Antoni would be the wrong guy to coach Phili. His style wouldn’t mesh well with Embid’s playing style.
Wiseman is so much better than Lopez or any big man in the buyout market. Besides, Wiseman needs to play to develop. It will be Looney, Wiseman, Green, Blejeca all the way for the W’s in the center.
I totally agree with u wiseman needs to play to develop. Do u really think the playoff time during a championship run is the time to develop a player. I think wiseman has played in less than 60
Games since he graduated high school. He’s not as good as Lopez right now. He will be way way better in the future but not right now. He is a rookie who is also rusty for all intents and purposes.
He really isn’t better than any of those guys at the moment. He could be one day, but right now, hes bascially unplayable in meaningful games. The word ‘raw’ doesn’t even begin to describe James Wiseman’s NBA ability at this point in time.
Dont confuse unable to play with unable to learn. He has spent the whole time since the injury watching film getting coaching, including from the new coaches that have done a good job with the other young players so far, and he has been able to do a bunch of drills while he hasnt been cleared for full contact so he has been solo training a ton.
Also dude is much bigger in his top half than he was last year so he should be stronger. He needs a run of games to get up to speed before the playoffs so it looking like he will return soon is a positive, but he also should be vastly improved over a player who showed flashes of brilliance interspersed with rookie mistakes.
Well don’t assume Wiseman will learn, given he has not by now. Anyway not the point. The point is this year… where getting Robin Lopez is that “home run” buyout!
It would be amazing if Looney is injury-free after all he’s been through.
This would be moot if GSW traded Wiggins for Zinger… Then Dray could be the 5 and Kuminga would have more experience.
Well that scenario was only considered by me anyway.
They have run out lineups with OPJ at the 5 as well that have looked really good I think they will run a little more 5 out with OPJ in the playoffs when hes able to get more rest.
It looks like Wiseman is close since he seems to be up to 5×5 that injury is one where you cant check progress with imaging since it will always look scarred, but once he gets going fully they dont have to do the progressive ramp up as much so he should be more full go soon. He has to get in game shape by playing several of course.
This will be a big post season for Doc and the Sixers. If they disappoint(Doc will be let go). The sixers have a roster to win the east
Unfortunately Doc is a choker in postseason and Harden is never ever clutch in postaeason. As for Embid, you can bet he will be holding his knees in pain. That has always been his excuse in the postseason ….
Harden is often clutch in the postseason. Where you been? Probably somewhere hatin be my guess
Are you Smoking mushrooms?? Harden has been downright AWFUL in his post season career, and worse in clinching games. You consistently have some of the most mind-boggling takes on here, my dude. I’m still waiting for TJ Warren to come back, his return was “literally” imminent 2 months ago, according to you.
I don’t understand what you r basing ur statement on. Harden shoots 33 pct from three in playoffs. Not clutch. His elevated shooting oct is less than 50 not clutch. His teams always underperform. Not clutch. Harden is a top 20 player in the regular season maybe top ten. In the playoffs based on these stats he can be a great second man but in no way is he clutch. His numbers go down significantly in playoffs. Opposite of clutch. But I do think he is a good player for sure
Part of the reason his numbers go down historically in the postseason is because the refs swallow their whistle and let stuff go. It will be interesting to see what the postseason is like based on the rule changes that have already affected Harden’s “drawing fouls” part of his past game.
What’s lebron excuse this year. He has one or two every year his whole career
It appears you’re not perfect either. Shadows in the brain
That spurs game has become a classic to watch
link to statmuse.com
Harden was in 19 elimination games while with Houston in 7/19 he had 4 turnovers or less. So 12 elimination games with 5+ turnovers is terrible
Impressive stat. How did you get it? Did u compile it ursefl??
You think Jay Wright would take the job if offered? I can’t imagine him turning it down & he seems like a perfect candidate
No I would be shocked if Wright left Nova. UCLA offered him double his salary(he makes about 6mil a year) and he turned it down. I don’t see him leaving Nova
Warriors can use another real C. Robin would be an excellent addition. Experience is always a plus for playoffs. You can’t teach that.
Dragic and Nash played together in Phoenix. They had a good relationship. Nets could use in their rotation. Especially while Kyrie is still missing gms. I can see this happening.
Agree. And even if he is taking a little time from Wiseman he is really just there as insurance maybe a mentor. It’s not like they are replacing Wiseman with Lopez lol.
Dragic under Nash would be exciting. Nets had barely any shooting now they have a whole gallery. Make it so!
Always can use more weapons, but with a full roster it’s easier said than done. Carter would be a good candidate to go, but has played better recently and has another year on his deal. James Johnson is on a minimum deal so he could be next. He has shown flashes but would be expendable when the new big three are ready and able to join on a consistent basis. I don’t think they’ll drop Blake because of his intensity and locker room presence. Claxton has been the odd man out lately but he’s too valuable to let him go for nothing.
You know I have always been a Dinwiddie guy. He’s gotta be healthy of course. But for next yr he should be. And if Knicks can get him cheap. I’m all in. Him starting and Rose backing up works for me. Definitely worth looking into.
Kembas contract only guaranteed for one more yr. Mavs could buy him out at TD or before. They save on Dinwiddie contract. So what would it take. Say
Kemba and Burkes >> for<< Dinwiddie
I do that …….
Lmaoo yes keep getting washed up mid level veterans, that is the Knicks way!
Where does adding dineiddle get us?? We still would suck. You want a bloated salary guy just to have a better shot of getting a ten seed. The mags only traded for spencer cause kristaos was becoming a personality problem on the team and on the court he was avg at best so they wanted to dump him. They HAD to take Spence back. This guy is a 6 mil player getting paid like 15 m
Sixers could use another C after losing Drummond right now they have Millsap backing up Embiid. Lopez might not be the fit but at least he has the size. I don’t understand why Dragic would go to the Nets. With Kyrie, Mills, Curry and Cam Thomas how many backcourt mins would be available for Dragic.
Dragic make no sense in NJ…
Jason Terry, LaMelo Ball, Isaiah Thomas, Andre Miller, Russell Westbrook, Baron Davis, Dejounte Murray, Kevin Johnson… gimme a top5 from these great West Coast guards. With the young guys just try to project how you think the rest of their career will go…
KJ got the Cavs Nance Sr, and Baron got them Kyrie Irving. Terrific too, both very much in charge.
Dragic is finished, toast. Doc just keep doing what you do, outstanding job and your players love you.
1/ Russ
2/ LaMelo
3/ KJ
4/ D-Murray
5/ Baron Davis