All aboard the carousel

 So I guess the lesson in today's NBA is "Don't lose big."

This upon the news that the 76ers have fired Doc Rivers, who committed the unpardonable sin of losing Game 7 to the Celtics by 30 the other day.

This coming on the heels of the Phoenix Suns firing Monty Williams after his team, down Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, lost the deciding game in their series by 20 to the top-seeded Nuggets.

And this following, as day follows night, the Milwaukee Bucks firing Mike Budenholzer after HIS team, down Giannis Antetokounmpo, lost in five games to eight-seed Miami in the first round.

Combined wins this season for the Sixers, Suns and Bucks: 157.

Combined losses: 89.

Doesn't mean a thing. 

Doesn't mean a thing, because if the swift dismissal of Rivers, Williams and Budenholzer tells us anything, it's that the eons-long NBA regular season is a six-month waste of time. Management could care less. It's what you do in the playoffs that matters. Everything else is just marking time and counting your pile from 41 home dates.

Rivers, for example?

He coached the Sixers this season to their most wins (54) in 22 years. It was his 16th straight winning season as a coach; under his hand, the Sixers this year were one of three teams in the entire league that ranked in the top ten in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

However ...

However, the Sixers' Game 7 collapse against the favored Celtics was Rivers' fifth straight Game 7 loss, and his ninth straight loss in a conference semifinal. So ...

So, he's on the street, same as Williams and Budenholzer. And you know what's unintentionally comic about that?

Both Williams and Budenholzer are expected to be candidates to replace him in Philly.

And don't be shocked if Doc winds up in either Phoenix or Milwaukee.

You've heard of the coaching carousel?

All aboard.