Doc Rivers, the head coach of the one-time NBA champion, has reached the final round for the position of head coach of Phoenix, in Shams Al-Shaaraniyyah. However, the sun should take a pass.
Rivers, who was sacked by the 76ers after their semifinal loss to Boston, is clearly not an upgrade over Monte Williams, who Phoenix had put out after Denver knocked out the Suns in the second round.
Rivers is not well suited to the NBA today and has a poor playoff record aside from a championship with Boston in 2008.
Former basketball player Rasheed Wallace, a four-time NBA All-Star, recently commented on Rivers’ shortcomings as a coach.
“He doesn’t make amends,” Wallace said, who played under Rivers with the Celtics during the 2009-10 season. “That’s just having him in the dressing room with him for the season. He’s relying on the players to make those adjustments [alone]. “
per SBNationIn the postseason, Rivers’ winning percentage was a dismal 32.7 percent (16-33) when his team already had three series wins. His teams have knocked three going 3-1 (a feat no other coach has done more than once), fumbled four going 3-2 (including this season against the Celtics) and lost Game 7 at home four times.
Given these shortcomings, it’s baffling that Rivers continues to receive consideration for any coaching positions—especially potentially promising ones like Phoenix.
In addition to the sun, Joe Vardon The Athletic reported that an unnamed NBA executive had suggested that Rivers could be a “sleeper candidate” for the Milwaukee Bucks.
There is no justification for giving Rivers the keys to a franchise that includes superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) or Kevin Durant (Suns) and Devin Booker (Suns).
If history repeats itself, as it so often does with Rivers, one can expect at least one playoff collapse, and possibly several if either of those teams make it. This is why Phoenix and Milwaukee should avoid this doc.