The Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to part ways with first-year head coach Adrian Griffin after a promising start has sent shockwaves through the NBA community. However, the subsequent choice to appoint Doc Rivers as his replacement has ignited a wave of scepticism and raised eyebrows across the league. With a coaching career marked by both success and historic playoff shortcomings, Rivers’ suitability for the high-pressure role in Milwaukee is under intense scrutiny.
The Bucks’ move to dismiss Adrian Griffin, despite the team’s commendable 30-13 record, was already a surprising decision. However, the selection of Doc Rivers as the new head coach has sparked a new level of concern, given the unique challenges facing the team.
One major challenge lies in maximizing the potential of the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard tandem, a task Rivers struggled with in previous coaching roles. His inability to unlock the full potential of star pairings like Joel Embiid and James Harden or Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan raises questions about his capacity to propel the Bucks to greater heights.
Moreover, the decision to part ways with a successful coach and bring in Rivers suggests a belief that Griffin was incapable of leading the team to a deep postseason run. This is a critical aspect, as Rivers’ recent coaching history shows a pattern of postseason shortcomings.
Rivers’ playoff record is marred by significant setbacks, including coaching three teams that blew 3-1 series leads – a rare feat in NBA history. His struggles extend to Game 7s, where he holds a coaching record of 6-10, the most losses for a coach in NBA history in such situations. Additionally, his teams have a dismal 34% win rate in games where they had a chance to clinch a playoff series, a record-setting statistic for coaching failures.
The concerns surrounding Rivers’ postseason performance are not confined to Milwaukee. The NBA community, including rival executives, views his coaching history with skepticism. The sentiment is that Rivers, despite being a seasoned coach, has often fallen short in crucial playoff moments, making him an unconventional choice for a team with championship aspirations.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to appoint Doc Rivers as their new head coach has generated widespread skepticism, and rightfully so. Rivers’ coaching history, marked by a lack of success in pivotal playoff situations, raises concerns about his ability to guide the Bucks to the NBA Finals. The pressure is now on the veteran coach to defy his postseason trends and lead Milwaukee to the success they envision. Only time will tell whether Rivers can overcome his coaching shortcomings and live up to the expectations set by the Bucks’ bold decision.
