The Milwaukee Bucks have hired Doc Rivers as their new head coach just moments before the end of the 112-100 loss to the Cavaliers on Friday night. Doc Rivers brings a lot of experience and a winning mentality to the team.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski Rivers will not be coaching against the New Orleans Pelicans, he will make his coaching debut for the Milwaukee Bucks on the road against the Denver Nuggets
Doc Rivers is expected to make his Milwaukee Bucks coaching debut vs. the Denver Nuggets on Monday, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 27, 2024
Rivers started his NBA coaching career at Orlando Magic from the 1999-2000 season. Doc Rivers has an NBA championship to his name. Rivers won his first and sole NBA championship for the Boston Celtics on June 17, 2008, after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers.
Pat Connaughton opened up on Doc Rivers’ pep talk ahead of the Pelicans game
Bucks guard Pat Connaughton opened up about the pep talk Rivers gave to the Bucks team when he met them at shootaround on Friday morning.
“He talks about just that identity that we should have as the Milwaukee Bucks,” Connaughton said. “You talk about the talent that we have on the team, teams should be a little bit more afraid to play us.
“Right now, with the way our defense has been playing, the way we’ve been up and down in games — I know we have a great record — I don’t think teams have really been worried about coming in and playing us whether it’s at home or on the road.”
Why was Adrian Griffin fired?
The basketball community was stunned at the Bucks’s decision to fire first-year coach Adrian Griffin despite being 2nd in the Eastern Conference. Adrian Griffin’s Milwaukee bucks were delivering decent and consistent performances but still, somehow Adrian Griffin managed to get sacked.
The Bucks have won 30 of the 43 games they have played under Griffin which was more than enough any coach can do to hold on to his job but the situation was different in Griffin’s case. According to reports, the main reason behind Griffin’s exit from the Bucks was his inability to gain the trust of his star players and upper management. Griffins man management skills were put under scrutiny and so was his ultra-defensive mentality.
Bucks fans are now counting on Doc Rivers to take control of their side and lead them to their Third NBA title.
