Philadelphia 76ers: Daryl Morey’s small mistakes cannot repeat: Morey and Rivers are not on the same page
Funny enough that segues me to the final reason for the areas that Daryl Morey has stumbled. Morey and head coach Doc Rivers do not seem to be on the same page philosophically for what the roster will look like and how it is played. Jordan is a traditional center who has been coached by Rivers before. That’s just a microcosm of Doc’s two seasons here.
Rivers has refused to experiment in the regular season so the team is short-handed or at least knows what each role player can do. Playoff basketball is situational and knowing what the roster can do when judgment calls need to be made. Rivers waited to play Tyrese Maxey in his rookie year, Isaiah Joe barely got run last year, Paul Reed barely got run until he realized that Reed was needed and Charles Bassey flashed in a November against the Nuggets but he was MIA after that.
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Of course, this isn’t just a plea to play the young guys because they are so good. It’s more of a request to give the team options so the Sixers have a better assessment by the trade deadline and buyout season roll around. The chance that the young guys pan out gives the team some much-needed energy and added athleticism. That’s not saying since the Sixers are kind of devoid of both but anything helps.
Rivers is notorious for not liking to play young players. For whatever reason that is. It doesn’t make sense, it won’t make sense and that needs to be accepted to some extent. Maybe Rivers meets Morey in the middle with roster construction and team philosophy.
It’s that time to read the tea leaves on any report that is found and to just wait for the madness of the off-season to ensue. With free agency season on the horizon, Morey surely is devising ways to plug up as many holes as possible surrounding this roster.