The Milwaukee Bucks hired Doc Rivers in an attempt to become a more serious title threat in the East. Instead, according to one rival NBA executive, it’s helping their competition sleep a little bit easier at night.
“When the news broke that Griffin was out, and Rivers might well be his replacement, a rival NBA executive texted this to CBS Sports: “‘And the other Eastern Conference contenders breathe easier.’ There’s a reason for that relief,” wrote CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter. “Rivers is quite literally one of the coaches who has most often snatched failure from the jaws of NBA postseason success. Again. And again. And again.”
Doc Rivers is one of the most decorated and widely respected coaches in the entire association. He’s led some of the best teams in recent NBA history, including the 2008 championship Celtics squad. Of course, he’s also been the figurehead behind some of the biggest failures in NBA playoff history…
Track Record Of Collapse
With Doc at the helm, multiple teams have blown series lead in the playoffs. Stretching from the Clippers to the 76ers, Rivers’ teams have a tendency to lose their mojo in the postseason and it’s why he has yet to win another championship despite coaching all-time greats like Chris Paul, Joel Embiid, and James Harden. Citing his failure to adapt and adjust to schemes, critics maintain that Rivers is not the best choice for a team looking to win a championship in 2024.
Rivers is 6-10 in Game 7s over his career, the most losses for a coach in NBA history. He’s also coached three teams that have blown a 3-1 series lead in the postseason. Needless to say, there are some major questions about Doc Rivers and his capacity to do what’s necessary when it matters most. But after firing Adrian Griffin mid-season, Rivers was the best option available who could hope to come in and make a positive impact out of the gate.
Bucks Are On The Clock
Giannis Antetokounmpo reaffirmed his commitment by signing that extension earlier this season, but it doesn’t mean that the pressure is off for them to achieve results right away. In fact, in the wake of the Damian Lillard trade, it’s more imperative than ever before that the Bucks are in a position to win a championship. Besides the fact that Giannis has no patience for mediocrity, Lillard is already 33 years old and doesn’t have long before he starts to decline.
The time to win is now for the Bucks, and it’s why they canned Adrian Griffin despite being 2nd in the East. But if Doc Rivers comes in and continues his concerning streak of playoff failures, it will only result in a bitter ending for him and the Bucks’ future title hopes. With everything at stake, this is the last chance for Doc Rivers to prove himself as a winner in the league and put to bed all the noise about playoff history. Having Giannis Antetokounmpo on his side will certainly make things easier…
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