MILWAUKEE: Doc Rivers and the Milwaukee Bucks every have endured loads of latest playoff disappointment.
Now they’re becoming a member of forces because the Bucks try to satisfy sky-high expectations by profitable their second title in 4 years. Rivers will make his debut on Monday when Milwaukee opens a five-game highway journey towards the reigning champion Denver Nuggets.
Rivers held his introductory information convention as Milwaukee’s coach on Saturday, 4 days after the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin simply 43 video games into his tenure. The Bucks had been 30-13 on the time of Griffin’s dismissal, a testomony to this franchise’s sense of urgency to win huge whereas it has two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard on its roster.
After the Philadelphia 76ers fired him within the wake of a 3rd straight second-round playoff exit final 12 months, Rivers started this season working as an ESPN analyst. The chance to steer the Bucks introduced him again to teaching.
“I wasn’t going to simply take a job,” Rivers mentioned. “I’ve been contacted a number of instances this season, and I wouldn’t even take the decision. I used to be lifeless critical. If the precise alternative opened, I might pay attention. If not, I used to be nice.”
Joe Prunty will work a 3rd and last sport as interim head coach Saturday evening towards the New Orleans Pelicans.
The quick job for Rivers helps the Bucks enhance their consistency and improve a protection that has taken a significant step backward with out Jrue Vacation, who was included within the offseason commerce that introduced them Lillard.
Rivers will coach in an area the place his No. 31 Marquette jersey hangs from the rafters. He starred at Marquette from 1980-83 and performed 13 seasons within the NBA earlier than starting a head teaching profession that has lasted practically a quarter-century.
“Being again here’s a dream,” Rivers mentioned.
His head teaching expertise represents a pointy distinction from his predecessor. Griffin had been an NBA assistant for 16 years however had by no means labored as a head coach till the Bucks employed him final summer season.
Rivers owns a 1,097-763 regular-season report and 111-104 playoff mark in 24 seasons with the Orlando Magic (1999-2004), Boston Celtics (2004-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20) and 76ers (2020-23).
His first victory with the Bucks will tie Larry Brown for the eighth-most profession teaching wins in NBA historical past. He was named one of many 15 best coaches in league historical past in 2022 by a panel of 43 present and former NBA coaches in collaboration with the Nationwide Basketball Coaches Affiliation.
It’s the primary time he’s taken over a group halfway by a season.
“It’s going to be a problem,” Rivers mentioned. “It’s a problem that I’m operating in the direction of. We’ve obtained to get organized rapidly. Can’t attempt to do an excessive amount of too quickly. We’re in the course of a season, so we’ve obtained to attempt to maintain our rhythm. There are modifications that we now have to make, there’s little doubt about that.”
Rivers gained a title with the Celtics in 2008 and misplaced Sport 7 of the NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers two years later. He introduced the Celtics to Sport 7 of the Japanese Convention finals in 2012.
However he by no means obtained past the second spherical of the playoffs with the Clippers and 76ers. He’s encountered loads of criticism for blown collection leads over the course of his profession.
The Bucks nonetheless imagine he has what it takes to cause them to one other title.
“The attention-grabbing factor to me is I do know a bunch of speaking heads will speak about among the detrimental issues as a result of that’s what social media is, however you speak concerning the success that he’s had and the power he’s needed to get groups into positions to win, whether or not they’ve closed or not,” Bucks guard Pat Connaughton mentioned Friday evening after the rent was introduced. “I take a look at our group and I take a look at the state of affairs he’s coming into, we get to these conditions, I believe we’ve obtained a very good likelihood to shut.”
Milwaukee’s had its personal postseason points.
The Bucks gained their first title in half a century in 2021 however haven’t superior past the second spherical since. They posted the NBA’s prime regular-season report in 2019, 2020 and 2023 however didn’t make it past the convention finals in any of these years.
Mike Budenholzer, who coached the Bucks to the 2021 title, was fired final 12 months after the top-seeded Bucks’ stunning 4-1 first-round playoff loss to the Miami Warmth.
“It’s going to be enjoyable simply to get coached by somebody who has one thing to show as nicely,” Bucks ahead Bobby Portis mentioned Friday. “Being on a group with different guys who, clearly all of us have one thing to show. Not saying we failed over the past couple of years, however we didn’t obtain what was sought out to be the purpose.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Related Press)
