Sometimes, a big move at during the middle of the season doesn’t work at all, like when the Milwaukee Bucks hired Doc Rivers as their new head coach. Now that the team’s playoff run is over, the one-time Coach of the Year dropped a big promise for next season.
During the offseason, Milwaukee tried to add firepower to the lineup by acquiring All-Star guard Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for a package headlined by Jrue Holiday. This move helped propel the Bucks to a second seed in the Eastern Conference, just behind Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics.
In a strange twist of fate, the Bucks’ front office decided to terminate Adrian Griffin at the start of 2024, despite coaching the team to a strong record. After a few days, Doc Rivers was hired as his replacement for the remainder of the season, a move that resulted mediocre results regarding wins.
Fortunately, the Bucks finished the regular season with the third seed and the home court advantage against the Indiana Pacers. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo was injured even before the series began and Lillard missed crucial games in the series, leading their opponents to eliminate them. As a result, Milwaukee exited the playoffs early and they have to resolve several major issues before the upcoming season starts.
Doc Rivers Drops Big Promise To Milwaukee Bucks After Early Playoff Exit
Aware of all the criticisms being hurled at him, Rivers dropped one big promise to the Bucks for next season. The head coach shared his thoughts. In an article written by Alex Butler for UPI:
“I’m going to do whatever I can for this franchise,” Rivers told reporters. “I really am. I think we can win. I do. I’m going to do everything I can to create that. … It’s rare, usually, right after the year, you want to take a break. I can’t wait to get started, to get to camp and be able to [get] all the things we think we need,” Butler wrote.
As it stands, Rivers was placed in a hard position by taking over from Griffin halfway through the season. With the benefit of a complete offseason and more time to be with the team, there’s enough for the Bucks’ head coach to produce better results soon.
While Rivers is just one part of the equation, Milwaukee’s front office will still have to figure out how to give the duo of Antetokounmpo and Lillard more help on the court. If everything goes well, the Bucks will perform better in the upcoming season.
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