PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Doc Rivers is the NBA's Eastern Conference Coach of the Month after guiding the Sixers to a 15-6 start, but Rivers needed someone to remind him of where his team is in the standings.
The Sixers picked up 11 of their 15 wins in the month of January and are now sitting atop the Eastern Conference. The Sixers are coming off an impressive victory in Indiana Sunday night after rallying in the second half. There is a sense by many in the NBA the Sixers may be ready to make a run to the Finals.
However, Rivers believes there is plenty of work to be done.
"I have no idea what our record is," said Rivers. "I don't even know, I'm not even going to guess. I was about to guess for you. I'm just focused on us getting better. We have to get better."
Rivers is a big reason why the team has been getting better through 21 games. There is still plenty of work to be done before the regular season comes to an end, but all signs are trending upward for the Sixers.
That's why Rivers is focused on his team getting better even though he was flattered to receive the NBA honor.
"It's nice," Rivers said. "But all it means is that your players are playing well, your staff is doing well, and you're probably healthy."
The players have clearly been buying into Rivers in his first season at the helm.
Last Sunday's game is one the Sixers might have lost last season, but they found a way to win despite the absence of Joel Embiid.
Tony Bradley said it has been easy trusting Rivers considering his long track record of success in the NBA.
"I think it's the system of what he's implementing and what he's telling us to do coaching-wise." said Bradley. "He's obviously been doing it for a long time and coaching for a long time, so we have complete trust in what he's doing and I think it's paying off and working."
This might not be the only award Rivers wins before the season is over. There is still a long way to go in the 2021 campaign, but sitting atop the conference heading into February is something the Sixers are more than happy with.
Now, Rivers wants to see his team go to another level.
"I don't think we're even close to where I think we can be," Rivers said. "It's nice that while you're going through this, you're winning games."
