3. Conflict, accountability are natural and necessary
The Sixers’ lack of accountability in the locker room and in the organization at large was perhaps the biggest talking point after Boston swept them out of the playoffs. It’s clear Brett Brown lost his grip on the locker room, and Josh Richardson went as far as to explicitly criticize Brown’s inability to hold players and himself accountable.
The Sixers had a lot of people to blame for last season’s failure, and no one knew how to properly channel and convey that frustration. It’s up to Doc Rivers to strengthen the organization’s culture, and that starts with accountability from top to bottom.
Here’s what Rivers had to say on the topic.
"“You have to hold [stars] accountable because the more accountable they will be with you and toward you, the more accountable you can hold the rest of the team. And I think that’s one of the key things when you’re coaching stars. This misnomer that stars don’t want to be coached, it’s not true. I think stars absolutely want to be coached, they want to be coached, they want to get better. They want to learn as well…they’ve done a lot of winning but we want to be the winner. Winning is great but being the winner is the best, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.” (via Kyle Neubeck, Philly Voice)"
Rivers is going to coach Embiid and Simmons. He’s going to talk to them, and tell them what’s done well and what can be done better. Conversely, Rivers wants the players to hold him accountable. Conversations need to be had, and conflicts need to be resolved. It’s natural for heads to butt and for perspectives to diverge. Successful locker rooms can navigate those tricky waters and emerge stronger than before.
"“There’s no smooth sailings. People assume in 2008 [the Celtics] just, like, glided through. That didn’t happen. Conflict happens, and you deal with it. Whatever it takes is worth it, is the answer, to get through it. You have to get through it. You have to meet it head-on. You have to play your way through it, talk your way through it, and be together through it. I’ve never been afraid of that at all.” (via Rich Hoffman, The Athletic ($))"
Whatever it takes.