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While October 28, 2020 will long be remembered as the day when we learned Daryl Morey was heading to Philadelphia, the Sixers were also busy today filling out Doc Rivers’ coaching staff. First, we learned Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke would be joining the bench, courtesy of ESPN’s Tim Bontemps:
The Sixers are hiring longtime Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke, league sources tell ESPN. Burke joins former Grizzlies and Kings coach Dave Joerger on Doc Rivers’ coaching staff, and is widely regarded for his defensive acumen.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) October 28, 2020
Burke spent eight years in Portland as a video coordinator and scout, before joining the Pacers’ coaching staff in 2000. He is widely considered the architect of what has been a long recent history of effective Indiana defensive units. On last week’s episode of Talking About Podcast, Tony East spoke quite favorably regarding Burke’s influence on that side of the ball, including how he helped turn T.J. Warren into a “defend the top opposing player every night” kind of guy.
Wow. Huge loss for the Pacers, especially on defense https://t.co/4ZRWWchrT0
— Tony East (@TEastNBA) October 28, 2020
In a funny twist, Burke was the guy who said last December regarding the Sixers, “I hate that team...I think Embiid gets away with a bunch of crap the league ignores.” Now you can use that to your advantage, Dan!
Dan Burke discusses the 76ers.
— The Fieldhouse (@FieldhouseEtc) December 3, 2019
We stan. pic.twitter.com/X7jHsFUA1t
The coaching hires were not finished for the day, however, as per The Athletic’s David Aldridge, the Sixers are bringing on former Clippers head video coordinator Pete Dominguez as an associate coach:
More 76ers news: per sources, Doc Rivers is expected to elevate his former head video coordinator with the Clippers, Pete Dominguez, to an associate coach position in Philly. Dominguez has impressed in various positions the past few years and earned the bench opportunity.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) October 28, 2020
Doc Rivers obviously worked closely with Dominguez the last few years and felt he was deserving of a promotion. Maybe the Sixers will have the next Erik Spoelstra on their hands.
In a short period of time, Rivers has assembled a fairly formidable coaching staff alongside him. Between these moves and the huge Daryl Morey Woj Bomb, this offseason is shaping up to be a pretty terrific one for the Sixers.