Former Buckers Coach Adrian Griffin (Left) and new coach Doc Rivers (Right). (Photo Courtesy of the New York Post)
By Owen Kutlu, Staff Writer
To much surprise, the Milwaukee Bucks fired Adrian Griffin from his role as head coach of the team last week. Griffin was just months into his stint as head coach, as he began his new role over the summer. Despite the turmoil in the organization surrounding the head coach position, the Bucks still boast a record of 32-14, good enough for second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics.
The main complaints about Griffin’s tenure surrounded the significant dropoff the Bucks faced on the defensive end of the court. Milwaukee had consistently been towards the top of the NBA in defensive categories for the past few seasons. However, a large dip has come during this season so far.
With the new acquisition of star guard Damian Lillard in the offseason, Griffin was pushed into the spotlight due to the sheer talent that he had to work with. While the season has not been a total failure yet, the organization was not seeing the championship-caliber play that was expected after pairing two of the league’s best players together. For that reason, Griffin was facing scrutiny and was ultimately relieved of his duties.
The Bucks did not waste much time finding a replacement. They turned towards a familiar face around the NBA in former Magic, Celtics, Clippers, and 76ers head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers has an impressive and extensive history as a head coach and is well-respected around the league.
Many of the Bucks’ players have come out publicly and given ringing endorsements for their new head coach. Fans, players, and the organization have bought into the idea that Rivers is the right guy to lead them to another NBA Championship. This sudden head coaching change stamps the fact that the front office knows they can win now. They refuse to take a back seat when it comes to giving their team the best chance to win.
Rivers, who is seemingly towards the latter end of his prestigious coaching career, clearly feels as though he can win a championship this year with his new team. In his introductory press conference, Rivers stated, “If the right opportunity opened, I would listen. If not, I was fine.” Now he has found a home for the near future in Milwaukee.
The outlook for the remainder of the season is very promising for the Bucks. With Lillard and former two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge, the ceiling is unmatched for the team under a quality coach like Rivers. Khris Middleton, Grayson Allen, and Brook Lopez round out a very impressive starting five.
There are 36 games left on the Bucks’ regular season schedule, which gives them plenty of time to iron out the connection with their new coach. If all goes according to plan, Milwaukee will be a dangerous team come playoff time.
