One-time NBA champion head coach Doc Rivers is a finalist for Phoenix’s head-coaching vacancy, per Shams Charania. The Suns, though, should take a pass.
Rivers, whom the 76ers fired after a conference semifinals loss to Boston, is clearly not an upgrade over Monty Williams, whom Phoenix canned after Denver ousted the Suns in the second round.
Rivers isn’t well suited for today’s NBA and his playoff record is abysmal aside from a championship with Boston in 2008.
Former NBA player Rasheed Wallace, a four-time NBA All-Star, recently weighed in on Rivers’ shortcomings as a coach.
“He doesn’t make adjustments,” said Wallace, who played under Rivers with the Celtics during the 2009-10 season. “That’s just being in the locker room with him for that one season. He depends on the players to make those adjustments [alone].”
Per SBNation, in the postseason, Rivers’ winning percentage is a dismal 32.7 percent (16-33) when his team already has three wins in a series. His teams have blown three 3-1 leads (a feat no other coach has done more than once), fumbled four 3-2 leads (including this season against the Celtics) and lost Game 7 on his home court four times.
Given these shortcomings, it’s baffling that Rivers continues to receive consideration for any head-coaching positions — especially one as potentially promising as Phoenix’s.
In addition to the Suns, Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported that an unnamed NBA executive has suggested Rivers could be a “sleeper candidate” for the Milwaukee Bucks.
There is no justification for giving Rivers the keys to a franchise that has superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) or Kevin Durant (Suns) and Devin Booker (Suns).
If history repeats itself, as it often does with Rivers, one could expect at least one playoff collapse, perhaps several if either of those teams hires him. That’s why Phoenix and Milwaukee should avoid this Doc.
