Doc Rivers, the current head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, recently made waves with his comments during an interview with Eric Nehm of The Athletic. In the interview, Rivers asserted that he has never come up short in his 25-year coaching career, stating that his accomplishments speak for themselves despite criticisms regarding his playoff failures.
“I’ve never come up short, in my opinion. Come up short? What does that mean? Like, we didn’t win a title? I go back in Philly. I took that job after we lost in the first round 4-0 (to the Celtics in 2020 under Brett Brown). The next year, we win the East in the regular season. All right. We are one game away from the Eastern finals.
“So there’s times where I’m like we’re being evaluated on a different standard. And the great news is I’ve created that standard. So for me, that’s good. But then when the narrative comes that you can’t do it, that’s bulls**t. Because I’ve done it and I can do it. It’s just hard to do it. It’s just hard.”
“So I’ve always looked at it that way. Listen, I’m eighth in wins. I’m fourth in playoff wins. My dad used to say something, ‘If somebody said something you would never listen to, why would you ever pay attention to it?’ You know what I mean? My numbers don’t lie.”
“I’ve coached for 25 years and I’ve had two losing seasons. And the two losing seasons, we were trying to f**king lose, yeah. So I’ve made the playoffs — whatever, I don’t even know — 21 out of 25 years.”
“It’s almost like Deion Sanders said in that interview. There’s nothing you can say or do that’s going to take away from what I’ve done, and I’ll never allow that. Having said that, I want to do more. And to do more, you have to put yourself in situations where you’re going to be criticized if you don’t do it. And I’m fine with that.”
He highlighted his success in taking over the Philadelphia 76ers after they had been swept in the first round of the 2020 playoffs, guiding them to the best record in the Eastern Conference the following season and coming just one game away from the Eastern Conference Finals. Rivers acknowledged that he’s often evaluated by a higher standard than most coaches because of the success he’s had.
Statistically, Doc Rivers’ resume is impressive. He ranks eighth in all-time coaching wins and fourth in playoff victories, having made the playoffs in 21 out of 25 seasons, with only two losing seasons to his name. Those two losing seasons, Rivers pointed out, were part of rebuilding efforts where the teams were intentionally tanking to position themselves for better draft picks. He maintains that his numbers and body of work speak for themselves.
However, despite these accolades, there’s a glaring hole in Rivers’ career when it comes to playoff success after his championship win with the Boston Celtics in 2008. Since that title, he has been dogged by playoff collapses, particularly in critical Game 7 situations.
Rivers holds the record for the most Game 7 losses by a head coach in NBA history, with 10. His teams have also infamously blown three 3-1 leads in playoff series and lost four series where they held 3-2 advantages. Overall, Rivers has lost 12 playoff series after having a lead, which casts a shadow over his otherwise sterling regular-season record.
Rivers’ playoff shortcomings have become a central part of his legacy. Many critics argue that, despite his reputation as a solid coach, he has repeatedly come up short in the postseason, especially with teams that had championship aspirations. His inability to close out series with a lead has become an almost defining trait of his career since the 2008 Celtics triumph.
For some, Rivers’ remarks in the interview seemed defensive, as they contrasted with the glaring postseason failures that have followed him in stops with the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and now the Milwaukee Bucks.
Last season, Rivers was brought in mid-season by the Bucks after the team fired head coach Adrian Griffin. Although Rivers brought his experience and steady hand to Milwaukee, he couldn’t fully turn around their fortunes. The Bucks finished with a 49-33 record, good for the third seed in the Eastern Conference, but were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers, a disappointing outcome for a team that had championship expectations.
As Rivers enters his first full season with the Bucks, expectations are sky-high once again. With a roster featuring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, superstar Damian Lillard, and Khris Middleton, the Bucks are one of the favorites to win the NBA title. Rivers will need to navigate the pressures that come with coaching a championship-caliber team and overcoming his playoff demons.
While Rivers may reject the notion that he’s “come up short” over the years, the reality is that his postseason record, particularly since 2008, tells a different story. To change that narrative, he’ll need to lead this Bucks team deep into the playoffs and ultimately bring home another championship. Anything less would undoubtedly add to the perception that Rivers, despite all his regular-season success, continues to fall short when it matters most.
This season represents a significant opportunity for Rivers to rewrite his legacy. With a star-studded roster and the championship experience he brings, the stage is set for him to silence his critics once and for all. However, until he can replicate the success he had with the Celtics in 2008, questions about his playoff failures will continue to loom large.
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