Dave Joerger’s hire could bring a much needed jolt to the Sixers staff

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, former Kings and Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger has agreed to join Doc Rivers staff as an Assistant Coach. Joerger’s name had circulated as a potential Head Coach hire for the Sixers and Indiana Pacers.

Fired out of nowhere by the Sacramento Kings after producing what looked to be their most hopeful team in over a decade, Joerger has some great attributes to bring to the table. Working with the Grit & Grind Grizzlies from 2007-2016 (2013-2016 as the Head Coach), Joerger knows a lot about bully-ball and working with an attitude. If you want to continue to lean into that style it is a plausible option. The Sixers can continue their approach of zigging while others zag but that likely isn’t optimal. As the times have changed so has Joerger and he has proven to be great with the X’s and O’s and making the right moves during a game.

Before he was fired, the Kings were top 10 in the league in scoring. A lot of that had to do with conditioning. This was a team that ran a very quick offense and went from 30th to 1st in the NBA in pace in 2019. Although the current Sixers aren’t fully equipped for that offense with how Joel Embiid is, having a coach who emphasizes constant effort and running could make Joel Embiid incredibly dangerous.

The question now lies in who the other possible assistant could be for Rivers. Ime Udoka has proven himself as a great up and coming coach and Rivers former assistant Sam Cassell is another name discussed by others. It will be interesting to see what his next step is at head coach but the staff in Philadelphia is off to an incredible start.

Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports