NBA Executive Criticizes Bucks’ Choice of Doc Rivers as Head Coach…
The Milwaukee Bucks made a significant move on Tuesday by appointing Doc Rivers, a former NBA champion head coach, to replace Adrian Griffin. However, the decision has not garnered unanimous approval.
Some fans on social media criticized the Bucks for bringing in Rivers, pointing to his teams’ underwhelming playoff performances in the last decade. A notable NBA executive, presumably a rival team representative, shared a similar sentiment. In a text to CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter following the news of Rivers’ hiring, the executive expressed a sense of relief among other Eastern Conference contenders, implying that Rivers’ coaching appointment might not pose a significant threat.
While Rivers secured an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, his subsequent coaching stints with the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers fell short of replicating that success. Despite leading his teams to the playoffs in nine of the last ten seasons, Rivers’ squads often faced early exits, with three first-round eliminations and six failures to progress beyond the conference semifinals.
Rivers’ recent coaching history is marred by postseason struggles, including three instances of losing a 3-1 series lead, a record in NBA history. Additionally, he holds the dubious distinction of the most Game 7 losses as a coach, with ten.
Nevertheless, Rivers now takes charge of a Bucks team boasting championship-caliber players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton, and Bobby Portis, who were key contributors in the 2021 NBA Finals. While Jrue Holiday is no longer with the team, the arrival of clutch performer Damian Lillard aims to fill that void.
The upcoming season will be closely monitored to see how the Bucks, under Rivers’ guidance, perform and whether they can overcome their recent playoff struggles come April.
Potential Coaching Shuffle: Celtics Consultant Jeff Van Gundy on Bucks’ Radar for Head Coach Position…
There is speculation that Jeff Van Gundy, a current consultant for the Boston Celtics, may be in consideration for the head coaching position with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks are in need of a new head coach after the surprising firing of Adrian Griffin, despite the team’s impressive 30-13 record. While initial reports suggest Doc Rivers is a top candidate, there is a shortlist that includes Van Gundy and former Atlanta Hawks head coach Nate McMillan.
Van Gundy, who has not been an NBA head coach since 2007, joined the Celtics as a consultant in October 2023 after working as a color commentator for ESPN. Although there hasn’t been much public discussion about Van Gundy this season, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla previously praised him as a “huge weapon” due to his unbiased perspective on the organization.
The article suggests that the Celtics may prefer Milwaukee to choose McMillan or Rivers over Van Gundy, especially considering Rivers’ history with the Celtics, including leading them to an NBA championship in 2008.
The Bucks, currently a serious threat in the East with the second-best record and a high-scoring offense, need to address their defense, which ranks 25th in points allowed per game. If Rivers is selected, it could set the stage for a postseason matchup between him and his former team.
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