There’s no denying that Milwaukee Bucks’ Doc Rivers has been the target of criticism for most of his coaching career, and it turns out a lot of eyes will be on him to see if he can make Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team a credible contender.
After the Bucks game early exit from the play-offs Rivers has shown great promise to the team and its fans in 2023-24. The franchise acquired All-Star Damian Lillard in the offseason, pairing him with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the duo never truly reached their potential under former coach Adrian Griffin.
Rivers took over as head coach mid-season but was unable to lead the Bucks deep into the playoffs. Giannis was injured before the first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, and Lillard missed key games, leading to their early elimination.
Despite the disappointment, Rivers expressed his commitment to the Bucks organization. He told reporters that he would do everything he could for the franchise and believed the team could win. Rivers admitted that he would usually want a break after the season, but said he was looking forward to getting started and taking care of the team’s needs in the coming year.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Doc Rivers among NBA coaches on heated seat for 2024-25 season
Heading into the 2024-25 season, there are a few head coaches who have more pressure on their shoulders. In an article written by Zach Buckley for Bleacher ReportRivers is one of the candidates in the spotlight in the upcoming campaign.
“Because he would like to passed onDoc Rivers entered a difficult situation last season. Hired in late January, he had to mold the Milwaukee Bucks into title contenders on the fly while dealing with injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
Even on a curveball, it’s hard to judge Rivers’ first half of the season at Gopher State as anything but a failure. Milwaukee was 32-14 when he arrived and just 19-23 since, including a first-round loss to the sixth-seeded Indiana Pacers.
This dismal performance should increase scrutiny on Rivers, who no longer has a built-in excuse for taking over mid-season. He’ll have a full offseason, training camp and regular season to return the Bucks (champions in 2021) to powerhouse status.
Given the collective age of this roster, this franchise faces as much of a dire need as anyone. Rivers will have no margin for error. Either he has to fight his way back to the top of the Eastern Conference, or Milwaukee will have to replace him with someone who can,” Buckley wrote.
As fans and critics alike have noted, Rivers has found himself in a difficult position when he took over the team mid-season. With a full preseason under his belt, he hopes he can put in better performances for the Bucks in 2024-25. The team’s front office will also need to provide more support for Giannis and Lillard to help the Bucks reach their full potential.
There will undoubtedly be plenty of eyes on Rivers to see if he can turn things around in Milwaukee. If he can’t, expect the front office to start spinning its wheels on his replacement sooner rather than later.
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