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After losing 50 games this season, Doc Rivers has announced that he is leaving the Milwaukee Bucks, mercifully ending a disastrous 2 1/2 seasons as head coach of the franchise.
One of the most overrated coaches and figures in NBA history, Rivers was a predictable dud with the Bucks, a franchise that has no direction and needs to come to terms with reality: it is time to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.
Rivers never deserved the Bucks job but seemingly finagled his way into the position after the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin 43 games into his first season, despite having a 30-13 record at the time. The Bucks cratered once Rivers went from consultant to head coach, finishing 17-19 the rest of the regular season and losing to the lower-seeded Indiana Pacers in the first round. The Bucks proceeded to lose again to the Pacers in the first round last season before enduring this miserable 30-52 campaign of drama, drama and more drama.
The petulant Antetokounmpo has really cratered all likeability this season with his half-foot in, half-foot out mentality while Rivers was a blowhard who talked a good game but couldn't back it up on the sidelines. That has been the case with Rivers for quite a long time. With the exception of one championship with a loaded Boston Celtics team in 2008, Rivers has been nothing but a mediocre coach who has disappointed more than he has impressed with the Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Celtics and Orlando Magic.
River is loved by the media, though, hence his recent Hall of Fame selection, for what, I am not sure. Rivers made one All-Star game as a player and won one title as a head coach. Sadly, Rivers once seemed to be a class act but has become more of an ego-maniac politician with age. In reality, Rivers was an average/above-average player and coach who has been placed on a pedestal as if he is something great. He just isn't anything special.
Sadly, for the Bucks, Rivers leaving does not do much to move the needle. This franchise has done everything wrong since winning the title in 2021, especially trading Jrue Holiday for Dame Lillard, an awful move that really cost this team its heart and soul. The Bucks are too scared to trade Giannis even though it is time. The relationship between the star and the franchise is beyond toxic. While trading a generational talent like Giannis is going to be hard for a small-market team like the Bucks, it's time for Milwaukee to suck it up and start building for the future, preferably with a new General Manger. Let's not get started on Jon Horst.
My guess is the Bucks will kick the can down the road once again, elevating Darvin Ham to Head Coach and giving Giannis more say on next season's roster, that is, until things crater right away and Giannis pouts some more about wanting to be on a championship team.
Sorry, I am just venting now. The NBA, like Doc Rivers, is just no good anymore. Give me college basketball, with all of its problems, every day of the week. :-)
One of the most overrated coaches and figures in NBA history, Rivers was a predictable dud with the Bucks, a franchise that has no direction and needs to come to terms with reality: it is time to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.
Rivers never deserved the Bucks job but seemingly finagled his way into the position after the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin 43 games into his first season, despite having a 30-13 record at the time. The Bucks cratered once Rivers went from consultant to head coach, finishing 17-19 the rest of the regular season and losing to the lower-seeded Indiana Pacers in the first round. The Bucks proceeded to lose again to the Pacers in the first round last season before enduring this miserable 30-52 campaign of drama, drama and more drama.
The petulant Antetokounmpo has really cratered all likeability this season with his half-foot in, half-foot out mentality while Rivers was a blowhard who talked a good game but couldn't back it up on the sidelines. That has been the case with Rivers for quite a long time. With the exception of one championship with a loaded Boston Celtics team in 2008, Rivers has been nothing but a mediocre coach who has disappointed more than he has impressed with the Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Celtics and Orlando Magic.
River is loved by the media, though, hence his recent Hall of Fame selection, for what, I am not sure. Rivers made one All-Star game as a player and won one title as a head coach. Sadly, Rivers once seemed to be a class act but has become more of an ego-maniac politician with age. In reality, Rivers was an average/above-average player and coach who has been placed on a pedestal as if he is something great. He just isn't anything special.
Sadly, for the Bucks, Rivers leaving does not do much to move the needle. This franchise has done everything wrong since winning the title in 2021, especially trading Jrue Holiday for Dame Lillard, an awful move that really cost this team its heart and soul. The Bucks are too scared to trade Giannis even though it is time. The relationship between the star and the franchise is beyond toxic. While trading a generational talent like Giannis is going to be hard for a small-market team like the Bucks, it's time for Milwaukee to suck it up and start building for the future, preferably with a new General Manger. Let's not get started on Jon Horst.
My guess is the Bucks will kick the can down the road once again, elevating Darvin Ham to Head Coach and giving Giannis more say on next season's roster, that is, until things crater right away and Giannis pouts some more about wanting to be on a championship team.
Sorry, I am just venting now. The NBA, like Doc Rivers, is just no good anymore. Give me college basketball, with all of its problems, every day of the week. :-)
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