Philadelphia 76ers: 5 players who benefit from Doc Rivers as coach

There are plenty of new and familiar faces on the Sixers heading into the season. Who will be impacted most by the Philadelphia 76ers’ new head coach, Doc Rivers?

Doc Rivers is ready to make an impact on the city of Philadelphia. Just a few days after leaving the Los Angeles Clippers, he was hired by the 76ers to be the new head coach. Philly fans are hoping that Rivers can elevate this team to new heights where Brett Brown could not.

Now that the team has upgraded its roster, thanks to the addition of Daryl Morey, Rivers has a chance to show what he can do. Will his coaching experience, philosophy, and strategies be effective with this group of players? Can he connect with each player, especially the Sixers’ young stars, and maximize the teams collective productivity?

We will look at five players who could benefit most from having Doc Rivers as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.

5. Seth Curry

Now that Seth Curry plays for the Sixers, they’re fortunate to have someone who can finally spread the floor for Joel Embiid. If you haven’t heard, Seth Curry comes from a family of shooters. His dad, Dell Curry, played in the NBA. His brother is some guy named Steph, who happens to be arguably the best 3-point shooter in NBA history. Seth is not the superstar that his brother is, but if used properly, Doc Rivers can help lift Curry’s career to another level.

What Seth Curry lacks as a defender, he makes up with being a smart decision maker and lethal shooter. For his career, he only averaged one turnover per game. Rivers should capitalize on Curry’s recent 3-point career highs in attempts per game (five) and shooting average (45.2 percent).

Looking back, the new Sixers coach played with a guard in New York who had a similar offensive style. In the 90s, Doc Rivers played point guard for the Knicks, and when Patrick Ewing was not an option with the shot clock running down, John Starks would benefit from Doc’s assists. Like Curry, the former teammate of Doc Rivers was a guard who could get hot quickly and was unafraid to launch shots from deep. Although John Starks was more explosive than Seth Curry, Doc Rivers will most likely design plays that will boost Curry’s effectiveness and create easier shots for Joel Embiid.

At this point in his career, Seth Curry is who he is. We all know what to expect from the player whose career really took off in Dallas. For the Mavericks, he played 26 minutes a game and averaged 12.6 points. Doc Rivers can draw up pick-and-roll plays with Embiid and Curry, or have him run around screens like J.J. Redick used to. If Doc Rivers makes that connection, that would make Embiid as happy as he was when Redick was a Sixer. The more minutes for Curry, the more the offense will benefit.

4. Shake Milton

In Doc Rivers’ first press conference, he offered praise for Shake Milton. It only made sense that the new Sixers coach would have fine things to say about a player who lit up his former team on national television for 39 points. It is easy to compare Shake Milton to another scoring guard who used to play for the Sixers. Doc Rivers should recognize the potential of Milton being a scorer off the bench just like Lou Williams with the Clippers.

Shake Milton had a breakout year last year, and was able to earn a starting role going into the Disney bubble. His struggles were apparent with new point guard responsibilities. As compared earlier to Lou Williams, neither player is really a point guard. If Milton’s career trajectory is parallel to Williams, Doc Rivers must be the person to pull the right strings and make it happen.

Milton is still a young player. Doc Rivers knows he has the opportunity to mold Milton’s game and future.  Whatever sets Rivers ran in Los Angeles for Lou Williams could fit nicely within the 76ers’ offense. With the success of Lou Williams earning two Sixth Man Player of the Year awards, the team could use that same scoring from Shake Milton.

Rivers’ main focus then should be to make Milton the sixth man and relieve him of the responsibilities of point guard. By doing so, Rivers would put Milton in a position to thrive on the Sixers, enhancing the bench production.

3. Tobias Harris

Doc Rivers and Tobias Harris spent time together in Los Angeles. For the Clippers, Harris experienced his best year as a professional. As these two are reunited, this ideal scenario should spark familiar chemistry.

It is clear that the roster construction of the Clippers when both Rivers and Harris were there is different from the current 76ers. However, Rivers understands what kind of player Harris has become and will quickly learn where Harris can fit within a new system. Their experience should create a vision for Rivers to implement Harris into the most effective situations as possible, particularly on offense.

In Los Angeles, Harris was best used in pick-and-roll situations. That could continue in Philadelphia, minus the clunky sets that Brett Brown used to use last season. The new coach probably also recognizes the versatility of Harris in the low post, so that probably won’t change much from last year, taking advantage of mismatches where the defender is undersized.

Looking at Harris and Rivers as people and not only player/coach, both men share something else outside of a mere past professional relationship. They are well known around the NBA as staunch supporters of social justice. Back in June and over the summer, Tobias Harris marched in the streets of Philadelphia in protest of the George Floyd murder. Overall, Harris has been an outstanding citizen wherever he’s played, donating his time, money, and voice to causes greater than himself.

Doc Rivers is very much the same type of socially conscious person. Recently, he was named to the NBA’s Social Justice Coalition Board. Only a few months ago, Doc Rivers gave a heartfelt plea for equality when interviewed after a game about the mistreatment of African Americans in the United States.

The common traits of player and coach for the 76ers is favorable because it shows a bond that is rooted in respect, demonstrated by their similar message of unity and dignity. Rivers and Harris connect on the idea that their life contributions expand beyond the basketball court and impact the greater good of humanity.

In the end, a Harris/Rivers combination is something that Philly fans can hold in high regard. Rivers brought the best out of Harris in LA, and the same will happen during the season for the Sixers.

2. Ben Simmons

Before Doc Rivers became head coach for the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and now the Philadelphia 76ers, he played in the NBA. He played point guard, most notably for the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks. He was a solid floor leader, who at one point averaged ten assists per game, playing alongside Dominique Wilkins and Kevin Willis in the 80s.  He also played with Patrick Ewing as a Knick. His responsibility back then is much the same as what Ben Simmons is expected to do with the Sixers. How will Doc Rivers’ experience as a point guard help Simmons become the best version of himself?

Doc Rivers knows what it’s like to be responsible for a team’s offensive flow. Getting the ball to Dominique Wilkins on a fast break, or Patrick Ewing in the post were his primary duties during his playing days. Therefore, he should be able to connect with Simmons on a level of mutual interest. Sharing his personal accounts of feeding the ball to Hall of Fame players to maximize the team’s offensive production should come easy for Rivers. Giving his version of what it means to be a pass-first point guard should be well received by Simmons because Rivers held the same position.

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From a coaching perspective, other point guards who Rivers has coached is another bright spot where Simmons and Rivers’ mentalities can intersect. As Doc Rivers speaks about the tendencies of Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo as floor leaders, Simmons better open his ears. Although Simmons has athletic gifts that Rondo and Paul lack, Doc Rivers understands that the point guard position has more to do with a cerebral application than a physical approach, which brings us to shooting.

Last year, Simmons dipped his toes in the 3-point waters. Will Doc Rivers encourage Simmons to dive headfirst into shooting behind the arc? With all of the shooters Daryl Morey has brought in, it seems unlikely the head coach will lean on Simmons to make this a permanent part of his game. However, it is more practical to ask Simmons to develop a mid-range game and begin taking pull-up jumpers.

In Boston, Rondo had never been known for his perimeter shooting, much like Simmons. However, Rivers supported the idea of the former Celtics point guard taking open shots when they were available. The question is what will happen if Simmons does not respond to such encouragement from Rivers?

If the Sixers are to advance to the next level, and truly become a contender, Simmons’ play as point guard is essential. The ability for a new coach to challenge Simmons in a way that does not alienate him will probably be the biggest story this year for the Sixers. Brett Brown, unfortunately, was unable to persuade Simmons to be a more consistent perimeter shooter. Perhaps Doc Rivers has what it takes to unlock that aspect to Simmons’ game.

1.  Joel Embiid

Doc Rivers knows what he has in Joel Embiid. For the All-Star center, the tools are there, and so is the motivation. Rivers has expressed such optimism about his new big man that it apparently factors into why he chose to coach in Philly. A huge reason why Sixers ownership flew Rivers out to Philadelphia so quickly after his departure as Clippers head coach is because he has the cachet and people skills to maintain a positive relationship with the 76ers big man. There are so many aspects to Rivers’ potential contribution to the enhancement of Embiid’s game, it’s hard to pick one.

Let’s start with the Ewing factor. During the days when Michael Jordan reigned, the New York Knicks were the main team to dispute the Bulls dynasty. The team, coached by Pat Riley, with a great supporting cast, provided 90s NBA fans with a great rivalry. Doc Rivers was right in the middle of it. He was the primary ball handler for the Knicks and played with Patrick Ewing in his prime.

The parallels to Embiid and Ewing are clear. Two seven-footers with a soft shooting touch and the ability to change the approach of an opponent’s entire offensive strategy. Like the former Knicks center, Embiid can make all penetrators think twice before driving and grab boards at a high rate.

Embiid’s range to the 3-point line exceeds Ewing’s, but that just adds more opportunities to what Rivers can do with the team.  The new Sixers coach can elevate the offensive efficiency of Embiid within the Sixers’ sets, adapting his big man’s unique skill set to fit within the current NBA style of play if he chooses. That’s an X’s and O’s outlook though. What Rivers can bring that is a more valuable asset will have a longer lasting impact.

What will pay dividends with the franchise is Doc Rivers’ conviction about Embiid and Simmons being able to thrive together. He pointed out in his initial Philadelphia press conferences that both players can win as a pair.

"“They’ve won 65% of the games they’ve played in. So it clearly works when they play together.” —Doc Rivers"

The new Sixers coach, like Daryl Morey, wants to put to rest any dissenting notions about the cohesion of the two stars. He wants to “change the narrative” surrounding the team’s two stars and elevate their play. If anyone knows about coaching multiple stars, it’s Doc Rivers. He was able to have success in Boston, coaching Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce to a championship in the 2008-09 season. He also went on to have multiple winning seasons with stars like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

The results could be astounding if Rivers is able to help Joel Embiid lead this team. Yes, Simmons will be the point guard and is a highly important factor for the team’s success, but this is Embiid’s team, much like the Hawks were Dominique Wilkins’ team and the Knicks were Patrick Ewing’s team.

Embiid is the player with the longest tenure on the Sixers. He is the most endorsed player and most controversial. He is their best post player and best rim protector. Without Embiid, Doc Rivers knows that the Sixers have no shot to win the East. Ultimately, Rivers will have to rely on Embiid for leadership.

Conversely, Embiid should rely on Rivers’ knowledge and experience to help him become the player he must be to fulfill championship aspirations. Should this two-way street of trust be traveled, the Sixers organization will bring a title to Philadelphia for the first time in almost 40 years.

Agree with the order of players? Did someone else deserve to be on the list. Let us know in the comment section below.