Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has faced a lot of criticism in recent years for his failures to win championships. While there is some basis for these comments, Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett stepped in to defend his former coach.
While addressing the topic on the “Hear District” podcast recently, Garnett blamed the players for not meeting Rivers’ expectations. He said:
“When I watch him struggle in today’s NBA, I really truly think that it’s just because of the players. Every player can’t play for him. Every player doesn’t fit his style. Doc really is a gritty guy who wants to really defend you for 48 minutes and grind you into the ground, and then we can score the ball, cool. He’s a real no-nonsense nose on the ball kind of guy, and I love that kind of coach.”
Garnett’s description of Rivers’ approach seems to be appropriate, especially considering the brand of basketball the Celtics played with him at the helm. With players such as Garnett anchoring the team, Boston exemplified the concept of hard-nosed defense and toughness.
The forward’s playing style aligned with Rivers’ vision. His unrelenting work rate on both ends of the floor made him the ideal kind of player for the head coach.
When paired alongside a talented group of players such as Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo, the Celtics found themselves a winning formula. This eventually culminated in a championship in 2008.
Under Rivers, the Celtics remained a competitive unit even after winning it all. Although they came up short against the Orlando Magic in the season following their title success, they returned to the NBA Finals in 2010 to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers. Unfortunately, the Purple and Gold got their vengeance this time around.
Since 2010, Rivers hasn’t successfully been able to find his way back to the NBA Finals. Much of this could be attributed to the performance of the teams he was coaching.
After leaving the Celtics in 2013, he joined the Los Angeles Clippers during the “Lob City” era with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan as the team’s core.
The Clippers were an incredibly successful regular-season team with Rivers at the helm. Over seven years, he notched a 356-208 record, with L.A. emerging as a playoff team in each season. Ultimately, they would also come up short in the playoffs, even blowing a 3-1 lead twice (2015 and 2020).
After leaving Los Angeles in 2020, Rivers coached the Philadelphia 76ers, bringing them significant regular-season success (154-82), before joining the Milwaukee Bucks.
Interestingly, apart from the 2023-24 campaign with the Bucks, Rivers hasn’t notched a losing season since the 2006-07 season with the Celtics.
In this regard, Garnett may have a solid point about the players’ performance being the shortcoming. With this outlook, however, Rivers may have a tough time with the Bucks next season.
Considering the drastic changes to the roster, Milwaukee may not be as competitive in the East. While there are trade rumors presenting roster improvement opportunities, the current prospects for Rivers and the Bucks are limited.
