Report: Brett Brown needs NBA Finals berth to keep job

The Philadelphia 76ers have perhaps the biggest game of the last 15-20 years on Sunday night. Game 7 in Toronto against the Raptors with an opportunity to punch a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks.

One of the main talking points through the fan base and the media throughout the playoffs has been whether or not Brett Brown will be coaching the Sixers next season. He's often criticized during losses and receives little praise after wins. Many believe that Brown has done enough against the Raptors to earn another chance next season, no matter the outcome, while others think a change should happen no matter what.

What does league think though? Marc Stein of the New York Times has league sources telling him Brown could be on his way out unless the Sixers reach the NBA Finals.

Beyond the uncertain fates of Butler, Harris and the sharpshooting J.J. Redick, rumblings in league coaching circles have grown louder by the day that 76ers Coach Brett Brown needs an N.B.A. finals berth to keep his job. Brown, I’m told, has little chance of surviving a second-round exit.

Brown joined the Sixers at the beginning of Sam Hinkie's process and endured a whole lot of losing before acquiring a competent roster. In 2018-19, he's has three separate variations of a team, which has made it harp to develop on-court consistency with so much change. Over the last two seasons, Brett has led the Sixers to two-straight 50-win campaigns, including consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

During the 2019 NBA Playoffs, Brett has shown the ability to adjust and hasn't had a problem benching players that aren't performing or meant for a match-up. He is a coach in just his second playoffs, so firing him if they don't make it to the Finals might be a rash decision.

The Sixers already have a huge offseason ahead, tasked with having to decide whether or not to re-sign Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. Adding a head coaching search to that list will surely make things more difficult. Especially if Brown is cut loose too soon.

Brandon Apter is a Sixers contributor for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on Twitter @bapter23.