NBA Twitter Reacts to Former Sixers Assistant Going to NBA Finals
Former Philadelphia 76ers assistant coaches are finding a lot of success in the NBA as of late. It might be a tough pill to swallow for the Sixers considering their struggles in the postseason since the team has started consistently entering the playoffs following the dreadful process era.
In 2018, the Sixers clinched a spot in the postseason for the first time since the Joel Embiid era had begun. After making it out of the first round, the Sixers lost to the Boston Celtics in round two.
The following year, the Sixers clinched the third seed before defeating the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. Their postseason run ended in heartbreak fashion against the Toronto Raptors.
When the 2020 bubble run approached, the Sixers were swept in the first round against the Celtics. The 76ers moved on from their head coach Brett Brown following the series. The Sixers hired Doc Rivers to replace Brown, hoping the championship-experienced coach could help them get over the hump.
Unfortunately, that plan has been unsuccessful so far. And in the process, the Sixers have now watched two former assistants of theirs take on head coaching positions and help coach their squads to the NBA Finals.
Last season, after the Sixers fell short to the Atlanta Hawks in the second round, the Phoenix Suns made a run in the Western Conference to the Finals under the management of Monty Williams. Brett Brown had Williams on his staff for the 2018-2019 run before getting hired in Phoenix.
This season, Williams’ Suns came up short in the second round, but the Boston Celtics clinched their spot in the 2022 NBA Finals with Ime Udoka as their head coach. Udoka joined the Sixers in 2019-2020 during Brown’s final season. While the Sixers considered Udoka to replace Brown, he was far-behind several candidates and eventually took an assistant job in Brooklyn before becoming the coach of the Celtics.
Now, after another second-round exit, Sixers fans remain frustrated watching former Philly assistants lead their teams to the NBA’s biggest stage. Here’s how fans reacted on Twitter on Sunday night as the Celtics defeated the Miami Heat in Game 7 to advance to the NBA Finals.
The Reaction
More Sixers News:
Holding Out Hope: Last week, it was reported the Los Angeles Lakers narrowed down their head coaching search to just three candidates. Although there were rumors the Lakers had interest in Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers, it was becoming increasingly unlikely Rivers would become available. While that remains the case, the Lakers are rumored to be clinging onto a bit of hope that scenario changes in the near future as they stall the process of hiring Frank Vogel’s replacement. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
All-Defensive Honors: Philadelphia 76ers’ third-year wing Matisse Thybulle has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second-Team for the second-straight season. Thybulle, who continues to rack up defensive accolades, has already become one of the league’s best perimeter defenders early on in his professional career. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
