A new coach was supposed to help the Milwaukee Bucks realize their NBA championship contention potential. It’s still too early to say anything definitively, and it’s certainly not all his fault, but Doc Rivers has not been the midseason answer that Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks were looking for.
Ten games into Rivers’ tenure, and the Bucks are just a disappointing 3-7. It would’ve always been tough sledding to quickly get a quality rhythm with a new coach in late January/early February. That’s understandable. But the struggles are still clearly weighing on Antetokounmpo and friends.
So much so that, according to The Athletic, Antetokounmpo spoke up on what the Bucks have been dealing with during his All-Star Weekend media availability. Let me just say that his comments were rather … ironic:
“It’s hard. It’s hard. This is my fourth coach in the span of six months,” Antetokounmpo said. “Coach (Mike Budenholzer), coach (Adrian Griffin), (interim) coach Joe (Prunty) and Doc (Rivers). Different philosophy, different game plan. It’s hard. It’s draining.”
Some have speculated that, as the Bucks’ franchise player, Antetokounmpo played a greater role in the respective dismissals of Budenholzer and Griffin (especially after a 30-13 start for the latter). If that is indeed true, Antetokounmpo complaining about adjusting to another coach’s style at this point in time would legitimately be like the pot calling the kettle black.
Perhaps this conversation fades should the Bucks storm out of the All-Star break on a long winning streak with renewed energy and focus. Heck, that might be the only way.