NBA
76ers' head coach Doc Rivers enters covid-19 protocols
Philadelphia has gone from problem to problem this season and now they are set to face a crucial game without their head coach.
From a protracted saga with Ben Simmons to growing roster problems, the 76ers just can't seem to catch a break.
Philadelphia's HC Doc Rivers enters protocols
According to reports on Thursday, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has entered the NBA's covid-19 health and safety protocols. It is understood that Rivers is in fact vaccinated. Reports have also stated that assistant coach Dan Burke will serve as interim head coach in River's absence. The 76ers are currently on the road and are set to face the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night at the Barclays Center. Incidentally, Sixers' Tyler Johnson and Myles Powell were also placed in protocols on Thursday.
The 76ers take the good with the bad
The news of Rivers' status along with Johnson and Powell's comes just one day after Andre Drummond returned to practice having cleared protocols on Monday. This is to say Philadelphia could use some better luck. There is of course the hope that Shake Milton will clear protocols and subsequently be eligible to play against the Nets. It should be noted that he NBA tests players, coaches and staff members daily. Additionally, coaches and players who are fully vaccinated and also asymptomatic, can in fact be cleared from protocols after six days if tests demonstrate that they’re no longer at risk of being infected. Individuals can still clear protocols if they return two negative results 24 hours apart.
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The list of covid-19 positive coaches grows
With the news, Rivers is now the sixth NBA head coach placed in protocols. The 76ers' coach joins Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets), Monty Williams (Phoenix Suns), Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls), Frank Vogel (Los Angeles Lakers), Chauncey Billups (Portland Trail Blazers) and Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder) on a list that is increasingly more difficult to contain. To date Rivers has a record of 59-47 with Philadelphia, however, one must acknowledge that he is in fact the 10th winningest coach in the league with a record of 1,010-720 across more than 22 seasons. Those numbers represent coaching jobs the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and lastly, the Sixers.