Bucks Considering Doc Rivers For Their Next Head Coach
In a surprise move, the Bucks have fired their head coach Adrian Griffin. This despite the team being 30-13, and the 2-seed behind the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. But the good record covered up for some cracks forming. And according to Chris Mannix, several Bucks players lost faith in their head coach, including Giannis Antetokounmpo. That was enough to push Griffins out just 43 games into his career with the Bucks. But what is even more surprising is one of the names being put out there as his replacement. Doc Rivers.
Sixers fans are all too familiar with Doc. He oversaw the last 3 2nd Round collapses with the Sixers. And he had a similar reputation with the Clippers for his team falling apart in the playoffs. But when you fire your head coach in the middle of the season, your options are slim to none. It is either in house candidates, or guys currently out of a job. And despite all of his flaws, he may be one of the best options available to them.
Regardless, it is not a good look for the Bucks at all. That said, the Cavs pulled a similar move back in 2016. They fired David Blatt despite the team being 40-11. and that season they went on to win the NBA Finals with Tyron Lue as their coach. That was a case of them promoting a coach already on the team though, and not hiring someone who had not been around the team. So if the Bucks decide to hire Doc Rivers, instead of keeping Interim Coach Joe Prunty, it will be interesting to see how it works out. Bringing in an outside coach in the middle of the season seems like a recipe for disaster.