Well, this certainly goes against every single post that I have written about the Philadelphia 76ers today following yesterday’s embarrassing loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. 

According to Ramona Shelburne, James Harden’s future with the Sixers will be determined by the team’s decision to fire or retain Doc Rivers as head coach, as stated on NBA Today. 

“It would be hard to see James [Harden] wanting to come back and play for Doc again,” one team source said.

James Harden’s Future with the Sixers could depend on Doc Rivers

Well, it looks like we’re keeping Doc Rivers then, right? 

I mean what a 180 from my entire thought process from earlier today where I said under no circumstances you can keep Doc Rivers as head coach of this team heading into next season. 

The proof is in the pudding. Rivers is a certified loser and has no business coaching the 76ers or really, any NBA team ever again. I’m not going to run through all the reasons why, but if you can’t take my word for it, feel free to check out every statistic over Rivers’ head coaching career and it’s not hard to understand why. 

Assuming Shelburne’s report is true, the Sixers should strongly consider keeping Doc Rivers, or at least lie about it and say he’s staying so James Harden doesn’t pick up his player option and leaves Philadelphia as quickly as possible. 

Yes, I know losing Harden’s production will be a major loss to the Philadelphia 76ers lineup but at the same time, he proved that he’s not a “big game” player come playoff time and really, we we should have known that already given his history in the NBA. 

The fact remains that Harden was brought here to win an NBA Championship with Joel Embiid. He was healthy this season going into the playoffs and unfortunately did not deliver as an NBA player that believes he is deserving of a max contract. 

James Harden Game 7: 9 PTS, 3/11 FGM, 1/5 3PM

I don’t see how the Philadelphia 76ers re-sign him to anything long term and honestly, they shouldn’t.

Harden has proven to be too inconsistent and an unreliable second option on the Sixers. 

That of course, depends on Harden finding a better situation than the player option that he has here in Philadelphia, which if you watched him in the playoffs, I’m not sure if that’s the case.

Harden could easily exercise that and be wearing a Sixers uniform next season which might send me airborne off the Ben Franklin Bridge. If he wants to go to Houston, I will personally take him there myself.

If the Sixers could shed themselves of both Harden and Rivers and look ahead to the future, they should do so as quickly as possible. 

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