Philadelphia 76ers: 3 benefits to Doc Rivers as head coach

The Philadelphia 76ers have a new coach. What are the positives?

The Philadelphia 76ers made fairly quick work of their search for a new head coach, becoming the second team to fill that position this offseason. Doc Rivers was the choice for Philadelphia, infusing the Sixers’ locker room with respectability and cachet.

While not everyone is a fan of Rivers — I have voiced my objections in the past — he is a good coach, and should embrace the challenge of making the Sixers’ puzzle pieces fit. For all the criticism he took at the end of his Clippers tenure, it was Rivers who elevated LA to relevancy outside the Lakers’ shadow. He can do plenty of good.

Rivers’ career record of 943-681 is Hall of Fame worthy. He won a championship with Boston in 2008, and will now have the chance to help Philadelphia surpass his former team in the Atlantic Division. In terms of reputation and league-wide respect, not many coaches can touch Rivers. That surely factored into ownership’s decision.

Is Rivers the most exciting hire? Probably not. The flaws that brought about Brett Brown’s demise have been worryingly common throughout Rivers’ career as a head coach. With that said, Brown was not a bad coach, and roster improvements could give Rivers a better hand to work with. If the front office puts the Sixers in a position to compete, Rivers is capable of getting them where they need to go.

Here are some positives to the Rivers signing.

3. Doc Rivers, the players’ coach

Rivers has built his career on coaching star talent and, more often than not, connecting with star talent. He coached Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo in Boston — a combustive set of personalities that got along swimmingly during Rivers’ tenure. He also coached Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill in Orlando. Oh, and in LA, he coached Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George.

There is no shortage of star experience on Rivers’ resume, and the hope is he can translate those decades of experience to a successful partnership with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. At the end of Brett Brown’s tenure, it became clear his voice didn’t fully get through to Philadelphia’s star duo. It’s Rivers’ job to connect with them, and to hold them accountable.

It makes sense for the Sixers to hire a players’ coach. To hire someone who is known to get along with players and to command respect in the locker room. While Rivers struggled to maintain a harmonious locker room in Los Angeles — the toxicity leaked from that group after Denver’s win a couple weeks ago is telling — his name speaks for itself. He’s Doc Rivers, and players will listen to Doc Rivers until he gives them a reason not to.

The main motivation to fire Brown was the staleness of his voice and leadership. The Sixers needed a change, and to bring in a coach who could reinvigorate not only the on-court product, but the organization’s culture. From that perspective, Rivers is a home run.

2. The Harris connection

Tobias Harris played the best basketball of his career with the Clippers. No coach has gotten more out of Harris individually than Rivers did, effectively making Harris the No. 1 option on a team competing for a postseason slot in the Western Conference.

While the team context is much different in Philadelphia, the Sixers are banking on Rivers to work his magic once more. The Sixers invested $180 million in Harris last summer, and so far, that investment has vastly underwhelmed. Rivers is familiar with Harris, and Harris is familiar with Rivers. If any coach can get Harris to perform at half the level his contract would suggest, Rivers is a good bet.

It’s almost taboo to discuss Harris with any level of affection or seriousness in Philadelphia, but he is paid more than anyone else on the roster. He is, for better or worse, a key component of this team, and the Sixers need to make it work. Harris can contribute to a contender. He’s a genuinely talented player. We will see if Rivers can maximize that talent with the Sixers.

Beyond Harris, Rivers has also effusively praised Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in the past. He likened them to Kareem and Magic, and while that comparison is exaggerated, it does speak to the potential Rivers likely sees. One has to think there’s a reason he so quickly accepted the Sixers job.

1. A deep staff

Rivers’ respect around the league cannot be overstated. Few coaches are a name brand, and Doc Rivers is one of the select few. When you hear that name, you think of the championship in ’08, and the glory years of modern Celtics history. The draw of Rivers’ name alone likely factored into Philadelphia’s decision to pursue him with such enthusiasm.

One benefit of Rivers’ reputation is the coaches who are willing to work under him. High-level assistants want to work for Doc Rivers. Just look at his staff in LA last season. Ty Lue is the hottest name on the coaching market, while Sam Cassell is expected to draw suitors of his own. Rivers can accumulate an impressive array of assistants.

The Sixers are already seeing early signs of that. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, former Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry could join Rivers’ staff in Philadelphia. Gentry would be an impressive hire, not only due to his own reputation, but due to his offensive know-how. It requires a great deal of creativity to make the Sixers offense work, and Gentry could prove essential in helping Rivers fit the pieces together.

Philadelphia has managed to lure big-name assistants before. Monty Williams and Ime Udoka are prime examples — even Mike D’Antoni early on in the process. But Rivers is a different beast than Brett Brown, and you can expect him to compile a strong assortment of basketball minds on the Sixers’ sideline.