Normally you don’t see NBA head coaches let go with just a few games remaining in the regular season. Of course, that happened with two notable coaches this year. Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies and Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets were let go with single-digit games remaining (nine and three respectively). Jenkins is the Grizzlies all-time winningest coach, and Malone helped guide the Nuggets to an NBA title just two years ago. Is there a possibility that Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks could be on the hot seat, especially if the team flames out in the playoffs again?
Could Doc Rivers Be On Hot Seat With Bucks Playoff Flameout?
Doc Rivers Potentially On Hot Seat?
Last postseason, the Bucks were certainly plagued with injuries to key players. Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the entire opening round due to a strained left calf. Star guard Damian Lillard missed Games 4 and 5 with a right Achilles tendon injury. He returned for Game 6, but Milwaukee was eliminated from the playoffs in that contest by the Indiana Pacers.
This year, they at least have Antetokounmpo available, and he has been playing out of his mind. He was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week each of the last two weeks. Having the 30-year-old, two-time MVP in the fold this time around will help the Bucks greatly as they once again play the Pacers in the opening round.
Rivers will be without Lillard though, at least for the start of the series. The 34-year-old has been out with blood clots in his calf. Milwaukee received incredible news in that Lillard is allowed to return to practice. He is out at least for Game 1 though, and it’s unclear when a return could occur.
Career As A Head Coach
Despite Milwaukee getting off to an excellent 30-13 start last season, the team fired then-head coach Adrian Griffin. Taking over for him would be Rivers who had previous head coaching stops with the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Bucks didn’t not experience nearly as much success once Rivers took over last season. They went 17-19 with him at the helm, and as mentioned, lost in six games in the postseason’s opening round. This season, the Bucks went 48-34, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite being without Lillard, Milwaukee ended the regular season on an eight-game winning streak.
For his coaching career, Rivers owns a career record of 1,162-816. That is the seventh-most wins by a head coach in NBA history. He was at the helm for the Celtics championship in the 2007-08 season. Unfortunately, Rivers is just as well-known for being the head coach for three squads that blew 3-1 series leads in the playoffs.
The Bucks won the second-ever NBA Cup this season. Last season, it was won by the Los Angeles Lakers, who fired Darvin Ham after the year was done. Could it be 2-for-2 in an NBA Cup-winning coach getting fired? Another Bucks flameout in the postseason could give management reason to do so. Rivers also has a valid excuse though in that he was without Antetokounmpo (and Lillard for part) of last year’s playoffs, and it’s unknown when/if Lillard will be around this year.
Photo credit: © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
The post Could Doc Rivers Be On Hot Seat With Bucks Playoff Flameout? appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.