Sixers coach Doc Rivers ‘shocked’ by Hawks’ firing of Lloyd Pierce

Lloyd Pierce left his 76ers assistant-coaching stint following the 2017-18 season to become the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.

At the time, the Hawks were one of the worst teams in the NBA, coming off a 24-58 season. Pierce, who had spent five years with the Sixers on Brett Brown’s staff, had the tough task of leading them through a rebuild. He never got the opportunity to complete what he started.

Pierce was fired Monday due to the Hawks’ disappointing start to a season with heightened expectations. Injuries to key players have contributed to a 14-20 record for Atlanta, which was 11th in the Eastern Conference after Sunday night’s 109-99 road loss to the Miami Heat.

“I’m really shocked,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said of Pierce’s firing.

Rivers learned of the development right before Monday’s 5:15 p.m. media availability, prior to his team’s game against the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center. He last spoke to Pierce five days ago.

“I mean this a tough business, boy, I tell you,” Rivers said. “It’s tough. I always thought it’s really difficult in the rebuild.

“I was so fortunate in Orlando, we did a rebuild and we were patient.”

After four-plus seasons with the Magic, Rivers was part of a rebuild with the Boston Celtics. Back then, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge would apologize to him every game for the product the team was putting on the floor. Ainge also told him to be patient and that they would get through it.

In 2007-08, Rivers’ fourth season in Boston, the Celtics won the NBA title.

“But most of the rebuilds, unfortunately, go the way of Lloyd Pierce, where we are in the middle of a rebuild and then you blame the coach for the losses that you had no chance to win,” Rivers said. “And unfortunately, that’s just the way it works in our league, and it’s too bad. It’s tough on coaches, that’s for sure.”

» READ MORE: Doc Rivers and Daryl Morey have tougher jobs than many think | Sixers podcast

Pierce compiled a 63-120 record with the Hawks. They missed the playoffs the two seasons he completed. The Hawks lost 11 of their past 15 games after starting the season 10-9.

The Sixers sent rookie guard Isaiah Joe to the G League bubble at Walt Disney World on Sunday to get reps with their affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. However, he didn’t play Monday in the Blue Coats’ 120-92 victory over the G League Ignite due to health and safety protocols. Players coming into the bubble are required to produce four consecutive negative COVID-19 tests while in quarantine. The Blue Coats expect to have him available by the end of the week.