Suns Should Pursue Doc Rivers for Head Coaching Vacancy
The Phoenix Suns may have a potential new candidate for their vacant head coaching position, as the Philadelphia 76ers announced they are parting ways with head coach Doc Rivers.
Rivers coached the 76ers for three seasons, going 154-82 during his tenure but failed to lead Philadelphia past the second round of the playoffs.
Out of all the coaches available, Rivers has the most experience with 24 seasons as a head coach between the 76ers, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers.
Rivers’ past endeavors makes him an interesting candidate for the job as not only will he be able to mentor the younger players already on the team, but just his name alone could attract free agents to come to the Valley.
Through his long coaching career, Rivers is known to be fair but tough. He has had the opportunity to coach many star players in the past including Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Paul Pierce and Kawhi Leonard. One main message he preaches is accountability no matter what kind of player one might be.
“It is on the players, but it has to start somewhere and it has to start with the coaching staff. It has to start upstairs in the front office. It has to start in the training room,” Rivers said via the Athletic. “Accountability has to be throughout your team, and throughout each single player.
“So, it’s a big word. It’s a word that, if you don’t do it, you’re not going to win. But we have to be accountable to each other, every single day. That’s the only way we’re going to be successful here.”
The Suns have two superstars in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker - having a coach like Rivers challenging and holding them accountable would help the two stars grow as players. It would also help Deandre Ayton if he remains in Phoenix. The one thing Ayton needs most is to be held accountable for his lack of aggression, and Rivers would do just that.
Rivers also holds the championship pedigree the Suns are reportedly in search of, winning a title with the Celtics in 2008.
Despite having a generally successful track record Rivers has some flaws that are blatantly obvious to some players that he has coached in the past.
"You gotta get somebody in there that the players respect,” Rasheed Wallace said via Underdog Fantasy. “He doesn’t make adjustments. That’s just from being in the locker room with him for that one season. That seems to be his biggest knock. If his team is up, you don’t really have to coach s**t. When you are in the trenches, and you are going against another team and another good coach, you gotta be more than a locker room manager.”
"He depends more on the players to make those adjustments that coach; you have to come in there and make adjustments as well, especially if what you’re trying hasn’t worked. When we were in Boston, as far as the players out there on the floor, we were the ones that made adjustments. The way that Glenn is, he’s not that hard-nosed coach that we need. Nobody wanted to believe me; now look."
Rivers does have a bit of a sketchy playoff history. He has blown a 3-1 series lead three times and a 3-2 series lead four times. Over the past ten seasons with the Clippers and 76ers, Rivers has failed to reach the conference finals. His teams seem to flame out in the playoffs as Rivers continues to rack up playoff disappointments.
There is a lot to think about when considering Rivers but Mat Ishbia should certainly at least give him a call.
