Since Doc Rivers coached his first game for the Bucks nearly three weeks ago, a Milwaukee team that opened the season by winning 32 of its first 46 games has gone just 3-7. While that stretch includes losses to some of the NBA’s top teams – including Minnesota and Denver – Rivers’ club also dropped games in Portland and Memphis.
“It’s been probably more difficult than I thought,” Rivers admitted on All-Star Saturday, according to Yaron Weitzman of FOX Sports.
The Bucks announced on January 23 that they had parted ways with previous head coach Adrian Griffin, then formally confirmed the hiring of Rivers three days later. Assistant Joe Prunty served as the interim coach for three games after Griffin’s departure, but Rivers was on the Bucks’ bench by Jan. 29, less than a week after Griffin’s dismissal, as the Bucks began a five-game Western Conference road trip.
“Taking a job when you’re about to go on the toughest road trip of the season is not the smartest decision,” Rivers said. “I even told them that: ‘Can we wait ‘til All-Star break?’ You know, it would have been a lot nicer.
“… The end game is what we’re playing for, and the organization felt strongly that a change needed to be made defensively and things like that, and that’s what we’re doing. The problem is, while you’re doing that, you’re in the middle of the season on the toughest trip. … I’ve been in Milwaukee (for) four days. I’ve had the job for three weeks.”
As Rivers alluded to, the Bucks’ defensive struggles under Griffin were one reason the team decided to make a change, and Milwaukee’s defense has technically improved since Rivers took over. The team has allowed 113.6 per 100 possessions over its last 10 games, compared to 116.8 under Griffin, Weitzman notes. But the club’s offensive production has fallen off significantly during the same stretch, with its offensive rating diving from 120.6 under Griffin to 111.9 under Rivers.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo admitted that the team’s frequent coaching changes over the past year – from Mike Budenholzer to Griffin to Prunty to Rivers – have been “draining,” with Milwaukee’s players being asked to constantly adjust to new philosophies and game plans. However, he expressed faith in Rivers on Saturday, per Weitzman.
“I love working with Coach Doc. He’s been very, very successful,” Antetokounmpo said. “We can talk all day about things he’s accomplished around the league. He’s won, I think, 1,100 NBA games. Some people have never played 1,100 games. Yeah, he brings that level of — how can I say? A championship level to the team. He won. He’s coached a lot of successful teams in the past.”
Serves the Bucks right for firing their coach when their season was not going badly at all…
Lets not forget the Bucks fired Bud after the Miami series when Giannis barley played and his brother died in a car accident mid way through.
Bucks never went 3-7 in a 10 game stretch throughout his 5 year stint. Doc managed to do it in his first 10 games.
At least Giannis has the hops to go with the barley
Lol a championship level. That was KG not Glenn. He also has the worst playoff resume of any coach with his amount of experience.
Glad I’m not a Bucks fan.
For the regular season, Doc is one of the best coaches of all time
To be fair,
If Monty Williams signed $80 million contract with Pistons, Doc should sign $160 million with Bucks
Doc is much more successful than Monty
How many times does Monty make playoffs?
What do you think?
Phil Jackson would not be winning games with the current edition of the Detroit Pistons.
Yeah, but that was just Detroit doing something goofy lol nobody should operate like Detroit at this point.
Sixers and clippers fans could have told you Milwaukee… Doc is a total fraud. He wins bc of great talent, not great coaching.
I agree. He is a fraud. I refuse to call him Doc too. As sixer fan there is only one Doc. Rivers is Glenn and Glenn stinks. In Milwaukee he is proving once again that he can defy the odds and lose with great talent.
At least the players are happier after the losses though
With Giannis, Dame and Beasley all at all star weekend, wouldn’t have done any good to wait until now to take over.
Tough schedule remaining. Bucks being an actual threat to make through the east are decreasing by the day. I still think Miami is the biggest threat to Boston.
Can’t lead 2 stars huh? Can only lead 3???
It was dumb to take the job midseason. Griffin is laughing his way to the bank, and Rivers is miserable. Rivers was already on a major payroll with Sixers.
Had a cushy booth job and also a easy Job at the Ringer too with his son
The problem was clear even before Doc came in – Jrue anchored that D, and they shipped him out just to bring in a flashy name. Now they’re paying the price.
Both best perimeter defender’s gone. Grayson Allen not a sexy name but he was handy for Milwaukee. Middleton was also a pretty good two way guy, now a shadow of his former self.
I wonder if both bucks and warriors would entertain Middleton for Wiggins? If I’m Milwaukee I’m asking for Wiggins and Moody for Middleton.
No
Middleton is almost done
Rather keep Wiggins. He is better than Middleton for what they need if he gets back to his usual self, and is far better health and age wise…
I agree but both teams need a switch up this off season.
Darned if you do darned if you don’t. They brought in Lillard because the offense floundered in the post season, it always has even during the championship season. Middleton was the only creator for the tough one on one post season possessions. They can’t count on Middleton anymore and Holiday is a great defender but he’s not a floor general.
Doc, the word you might want to use here is challenging (not difficult). Almost all high profile jobs that are open are challenging, or they wouldn’t be open. Of course, those jobs can also be called difficult, but usually not by someone who sought it, took it and is up to it. Then again, Doc isn’t usual.
Yikes
The Bucks should have kept Griffin
I like Doc Rivers, but this hiring was ridiculous
“Doc” Rivers has only ever really succeeded with top level talent, and even that level of success is severely limited.
He’s only ever won it all with one of the best put together and most complete rosters in recent history.
He consistently underachieved with the Clippers, and he wasn’t much better with the Sixers.
Rivers has ALWAYS been given excuse after excuse, yet he fails to meet expectations every time over and over again.
He’s NEVER been able to rise above expectations despite consistently having ready made championship contending squads..
He’s one of the most overrated coaches in the league’s history, and that really sucks to say because he’s such a good man and seemingly everyone loves him who has been around him.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Doc, and he’s an amazingly intelligent basketball mind, but I’ve also met Thibs, Hoiberg, Donovan, and Spoelstra, and quite frankly they were all just as intelligent, if not more intelligent.
I really want everything to work out for the man in Milwaukee, especially for Dame’s sake, but I just see him failing once more.
I likely wouldn’t completely put this on Rivers if the Bucks don’t represent the Eastern Conference. Personally, I think Biston is the more complete team, and I don’t even think it is really all that close.
Lopez isn’t able to move as well, and hasn’t been nearly as effective defensively since he’s returned. Then, Middleton shows some flashes, but he’s really just a shadow of his former self. Plus, they desperately miss Jrue’s excellent perimeter defense.
Allen was also a very solid role player, and it seems like they’ve lost the majority of their quality depth. Their GM is largely to blame, but their aging vets just haven’t been able to rebound from their injuries whatsoever, and I can’t blame him for keeping Middleton or Lopez as they were always pivotal to their previous runs and their previous success..
Beauchamp hasn’t developed whatsoever. Beasley shooting percentages are up and so are his minutes, but he just isn’t scoring enough. Livingston, their 2nd Round pick isn’t playing at all. Portis’ numbers are down, and he hasn’t been as effective as he’s normally been. Lopez’s blocks are about average, but he hasn’t seemed nearly as effective anchoring their defense. He also hasn’t been the same threat from deep, and his rebounding has been down as well. Connaughton seemingly hasnt had the same impact he typically does. Plus, Crowder and Beverly aren’t the answer as lead role players anymore, either.
Overall, it just seems like a talent deficiency, and it I really don’t think they have the right coach in place to make up for their lack of impact from role players..
Doc and Milwaukee will “agree to part ways” at season’s end and Doc will jump right into a job with another team that comes open in the offseason, another one he can milk while in mediocrity and never get them to the next level.
“Never complain, never explain” is the mantra Rivers should be following. It seems he has no idea that in his interviews he comes off as an excuse-maker…
I don’t understand why the bucks fired boldenhowser however I spell his name. Seems like that was a mistake