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| IMAGE SOURCE BY- Britannica |
Doc Rivers is looking to continue his coaching career where his jersey is hanging from the rafters.
The Milwaukee Bucks announced Friday night that they have hired Rivers to replace Adrian Griffin, who was released on Tuesday after just 43 games. Rivers played in Marquette, which shared a home arena with the Bucks, from 1980 to 1983, and his jersey number 31 was retired.
"This is a great opportunity to join a premier organization that boasts a talented roster of quality players," Rivers said in a statement released by the team.
The Bucks made the announcement in the final minutes of their 112-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rivers is expected to be announced at a press conference on Saturday.
"I talked to him today and he's been supportive of us and I know he has very high expectations for this team," Bucks forward Bobby Portis said. ``I think he's ready for it.''
This move represents a big change in terms of experience as a head coach.
Although Griffin has 16 seasons of experience as an assistant, He had never been a head coach until he was hired by the Bucks last summer. Rivers won his NBA title with the Celtics in Boston in 2008, and his experience as a head coach dates back nearly a quarter of a century.
Rivers had a regular season record of 1,097 wins and 763 losses in 24 seasons with the Orlando Magic (1999-2004), Celtics (2004-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20), and Philadelphia 76ers. They hold a playoff record of 111 wins and 104 losses (2020-23). His 1,097 regular season wins rank eighth in NBA history, one spot ahead of Larry Brown.
"Great voice," Portis said. "He's obviously been successful in this league and is a well-respected guy in this league. He's a well-known trainer. Top 15 managers of all time. We can do this forever.''
Joe Planty, an assistant on Griffin's staff, served as interim coach for the Bucs' final two games.
Acquiring a team featuring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and seven-time All-NBA guard Damian Lillard gives Rivers a chance to make the postseason breakthrough he hasn't had since leaving Boston. be able to.
Milwaukee is second to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings, but the Bucks' schedule will get even tougher the rest of the season.
This opportunity gave Rivers a chance to address his recent postseason frustrations.
He was released by the 76ers last year after losing in the second round of the playoffs for the third straight year. Rivers' team hasn't reached the NBA Finals since 2010, when the Celtics lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7. His Clippers and 76ers teams failed to make it past the second round.
"I think all he can bring is leadership," Bucks guard Pat Connaughton said. "He has the same ex-player perspective as Griff, but he's been doing this a long time and he's won championships."
The Bucks' biggest challenge is to improve a defense that has regressed since they traded guard Jrue Holiday, a five-time NBA All-Defensive team selection, for Lillard. On Friday, the Bucks ranked 20th in defensive rating, up from 4th last season.
"He talks about having the identity that we should have as the Milwaukee Bucks," Connaughton said. "If we talk about the talent we have on the team, teams should be a little more afraid to play against us. The way we play defensively, especially given the ups and downs in the game, we've had a great record. I know. I don't think the team was really worried about coming into the game and playing with us, whether it was at home or on the road.''
Rivers played against both the Clippers and 76ers in the conference semifinals. I couldn't break through. He was fired as the 76ers' coach last year after his three seasons in Philadelphia ended in second-round defeats.
"Obviously he has a lot of experience," center Brook Lopez said. "He's been in the NBA and played there for a long time, so it would be good to get some kind of outside perspective on what's happened this year in the locker room." He started as an analyst, but the opportunity to manage the Bucks lured him back to coaching.
After winning their first title in half a century in 2021, the Bucks struggled in the postseason.
2022 Milwaukee lost to Boston 3-4 in the second round. Last year, the Bucks had the best regular season record in the NBA, but lost 4-1 to the Miami Heat in the opening game.
In a surprise move, the Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer, who coached their 2021 championship team. His replacement lasted only half the season.
Now the Bucks are pinning their hopes on Rivers.
"I think he's a good fit," Portis said. “Obviously, this is where his number is in the rafters, so what better team to coach than where his number is in the rafters? You stand on the sideline and you look up and there you are. It’s cool to see your name, which is stupid in itself.”