There are about 40 million reasons why Doc Rivers won’t fall for the Bucks’ 3-8 start to the NBA season.
Not that he’s blameless for Milwaukee stumbling out of the gate with the league’s 21st-ranked defense and 17th-ranked offense, but it won’t cost him his job. The Bucks are dealing with the aftermath of a series of front office decisions — firing Mike Budenholzer, missing out on the Adrian Griffin hire and having to bring in Rivers, changing the team’s identity in trading Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard — and it’s more likely the seat of general manager Jon Horst is hotter than Rivers. Here’s what The Athletic’s Eric Nehm and Sam Amick wrote:
For those wondering if Rivers could be on the hot seat, let’s not forget that the Bucks paid him roughly $40 million on a three-and-a-half-year deal less than a year ago. In addition, Horst is facing pressure because of how these past few seasons have gone, and league sources are skeptical that he would have the freedom to make another coaching change this soon.
The reality is that the Bucks are limited by getting over the second luxury tax apron, they can make some trades around the margins – they don’t trade Giannis Antetokounmpo or Damian Lillard — and they will play this season outdoors. Maybe after this season things shake out.
Soon, Milwaukee should — and must — string together some wins. Nine of their next 10 games are against teams .500 or worse (Houston is the lone exception) and they have 5-of-6 coming at home. This is the Bucks’ chance to adjust and turn the season around.
If they don’t do it now, things could spiral and get ugly quickly.
