The honeymoon phase for the new-look Philadelphia 76ers may be coming to a screeching halt.
In an episode this week of “The Ringer NBA Show,” NBA writer Wosny Lambre (otherwise known as “Big Wos”) indicated that the 76ers could be losing faith in head coach Doc Rivers, who is in his second year with them.
“I’m hearing [that] guys are not feeling Doc,” said Lambre, noting that he was hearing this from the players’ side and does not know anyone in the administration of Sixers GM Daryl Morey. “[Doc’s] rotations, his philosophy, what he’s doing, guys aren’t feeling it.”
Lambre also said that he recently ran into somebody he knows who is close to the 76ers when the team was in Los Angeles last week.
“I [told him], ‘Sorry but I can’t pick you guys to go to the Finals this year,'” said Lambre. “His response kinda raised my eyebrows — ‘Neither would I.'”
While Lambre’s source from the players’ side could easily be an individual Sixer who is not pleased with his playing time under Rivers this season, the team definitely has some problems that are floating to the surface lately. The 76ers are now just 10-6 with James Harden in the lineup and are also losers of their last three straight. After Thursday’s brutal loss to the rebuilding Detroit Pistons, Rivers even appeared to throw Harden under the bus.
During Rivers’ first season with the Sixers last year, the team got upset in the second round by the Atlanta Hawks, a defeat that led to the messy saga and subsequent divorce from Ben Simmons. Even though Rivers does still have three years left on his contract after this one, he will surely be under scrutiny for the rest of this season, especially with the rumors that were already around weeks ago about a potential Sixers coaching change.
H/T NBA Reddit
Photo: Greg M. Cooper-USA Today Sports
