Bucks' Struggles Continue Under Former Sixers Coach Doc Rivers

Former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers is struggling to keep the Bucks on the right path.

Apr 3, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers and forward Giannis | Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

After another second-round exit in the postseason last year, the Philadelphia 76ers decided to make a head coaching change. Doc Rivers was let go after just three seasons in place of longtime Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse.

At the start of this season, Rivers transitioned back into a career in broadcasting. However, he’d quickly get thrown back into the coaching ring. Despite a strong start under Adrian Griffin, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to move on from him in place of Rivers.

Fresh off trading for Damian Lillard, the Bucks have their sights set on contending for a title. Due to Rivers’ lengthy experience, they felt he was the best option available to achieve that goal. That said, Milwaukee has been average at best since they made their coaching change.

Under Griffin, the Bucks had a record of 30-13. Since Rivers took over, they are under .500 at 15-16. To make matters worse, Milwaukee has dropped three straight games to lottery teams to close out the regular season. First, they lost a matchup to the Washington Wizards. The Bucks’ woes would continue as they suffered defeats to the depleted Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors. Toronto’s win over the Bucks snapped a 15-game losing streak for them.

The Bucks are trending in the wrong direction to close the regular season, and it might end up benefiting the Sixers. Seeing how the standings are shaping up, Philly could square off against Milwaukee in round one. If the Bucks hold on to second place and the Sixers secure the seventh seed in the play-in tournament, the two rivals will battle it out to open the playoffs.

Given all the familiar faces on both sides, there will be no love lost in this potential postseason matchup.