The Milwaukee Bucks sent shockwaves throughout the NBA world earlier this week when they fired rookie head coach Adrian Griffin after just 43 games. Even more shocking was the fact that, at the time, Milwaukee was 30-13, tied for the second-best record in the NBA. However, it was clear that the team was not improving and progressing as they should, and Jon Horst made the decision to end the experiment.
In the interim, assistant coach Joe Prunty is the interim head coach, and he led the Bucks to a 126-116 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. However, he is not the long-term solution.
Mere hours after the news of Griffin’s firing was announced, it was reported that Milwaukee was going to sign Doc Rivers to take over as the team’s head coach. Rivers is a one-time NBA Championship winning coach who had stints with the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
As many people know, Rivers played his college ball at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Many have called his taking of the Bucks’ job as a sort of homecoming. But how will the players react to playing for a new coach midway through the season?
Milwaukee Bucks Forward Jae Crowder Speaks Out on Doc Rivers Hiring
While Giannis Antetokounmpo has already spoken highly of Doc Rivers to the media, not many other players have said anything publicly about playing for their new coach.
That is until Eric Nehm of The Athletic caught up with Jae Crowder after shootaround on Friday:
“[Doc Rivers’] been just like a big uncle to me. Obviously, we both went to Marquette. I’m a Marquette alum. I remember putting on that Marquette jersey, he was one of the guys I looked up to.
Obviously from afar. I’ve never played for him, but I played against him in the league, it’s just always respect, always a classy conversation between us two about our Marquette background obviously.
I think that’s the connection I have to him, but I’m just happy to play for him, happy to be a part of the journey with him and hopefully get this thing done.”
Rivers is also bringing longtime NBA coach and defense specialist Dave Joerger with him to Milwaukee.
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2 Comments
CBS in particular thinks this hire will be a disaster, but I do like the assistant he’s bringing.
I thought the whole thing was very curious and we could have gotten it done with a savvy trade and not firing the coach.
I was browsing the deadline rumors and see that the Wizards want a pick and to move Tyus Jones and go into a full rebuild. Looking at their roster and who they want to build around, I think the Bucks should try to trade Cam, Pat, and Bobby for Jones and Daniel Gafford, along with that pick the Bucks hold that is projected around 35 (a very valuable pick). The Bucks get a little younger and significantly better at two back up positions and AJJ and Marjon finally get consistent time to develop in Pat’s role. WAS also has other players to trade that will garner them first round picks, and by the time those players develop, Pat and Bobby come off the books and open up over 20 million in cap space for a free agent (trading Kuzma or Poole for expiring contracts could add significantly to that).
Seems like a win win trade to me, helping the Bucks to get younger and better and jump starting a rebuild for the Wiz.
You can’t chance moving a core player in Portis right now. Tyus Jones isn’t an upgrade over Payne. Payne is more experienced which is a better fit for this team. Jones doesn’t help defensively either. What makes the Bucks unique is that at almost all times every player on the floor can hit an open 3. Gafford is not a replacement for Portis because he doesn’t provide floor spacing as he doesn’t shoot 3’s. I don’t know why Portis comes up in so many trade discussions. He’s a valuable core player. He’s a glue guy’hustle and energy off the bench. He’s also the 6th man.
As far as development of AJJ and Marjon goes that’s not a priority of this team right now. They will not see minutes in the playoffs. They don’t even have much trade value either.