The 76ers fell short of clinching a series victory Thursday night after dropping Game 6 to the Celtics at home, a loss that renewed the conversation around one of the most dubious stats of Sixers coach Doc Rivers’s career.
Boston rallied behind an impressive 16-point fourth quarter from star Jayson Tatum to beat Philadelphia, 95–86, and extend the Eastern Conference semifinal series to Game 7. In the aftermath of the loss, reactions to the 76ers failing to capitalize on their 3–2 series lead poured in from around the NBA world, with some citing Rivers’s career record in Games 6 and 7 as a contributing factor to the outcome.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was among those who reacted to Philadelphia’s loss, as the former 76ers reporter blasted the team for failing to clinch their first NBA finals since 2001. Following Thursday’s Game 6, Rivers, an NBA coach for 23 years, is now 17–32 in potential closeout games, setting the longtime coach and his team up for a daunting Game 7.
“Devastating doesn’t even begin to describe it,” Smith said. “They had the best opportunity they’ve had in over 22 years, and they blew it.”
"Devastating doesn't even begin to describe it... They had the best opportunity they've had in over 22 years, and they blew it."- Stephen A. Smith on the 76ers' Game 6 loss to the Celtics https://t.co/SfF9seR0uN pic.twitter.com/k3HG3MN1Mq
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 12, 2023
With the stakes now at their highest, the 76ers will now face the Celtics on the road for Game 7. For his career, Rivers has posted a 6-9 record in Game 7s, with his last win coming against the Spurs in 2015 and none of the wins coming on the road.
Given the numbers, the odds appear to be against Rivers and the 76ers, but that will, of course, all be decided come Sunday’s Game 7. Until then, it seems Rivers’s Game 7 numbers will once again be a topic on NBA Twitter over the next few days:
This is a horror movie poster https://t.co/6k8p0fxQgV
— Pablo Torre 🏴☠️ (@PabloTorre) May 12, 2023
The Sixers are not going anywhere under Doc Rivers. Never will.
— Hoops Reference (@HoopsReference) May 12, 2023
Really makes you wonder how Doc Rivers even won that one ship with Celtics lol
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) May 12, 2023
https://t.co/exkWuDRB7V pic.twitter.com/ltxtVqdg9Z
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) May 12, 2023
Doc Rivers blowing another series pic.twitter.com/qKQ1skSFze
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) May 12, 2023
Doc Rivers is 6-9 all-time Game 7s. Hasn't won a Game 7 since 2015. Lost the last four by an average of 12 points per game. Has never won a Game 7 on the road.
— 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐨 (@FlyByKnite) May 12, 2023
