Doc Rivers is poised to have his inaugural coaching appearance with the Milwaukee Bucks against the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, on Monday. Rivers is assuming the helm of a Milwaukee team that is currently knotted for the NBA’s second-best record at 32-14. Nevertheless, the Bucks are bracing for a notably more challenging schedule, prompting jests from fans regarding the timing of his appointment.
Milwaukee is commencing a demanding five-game Western Conference road trip on Monday. The most arduous stretch of their schedule, however, is slated from Mar. 4 to Mar. 20.
During this timeframe, the Bucks are scheduled to face seven out of eight games against formidable opponents. This includes matchups against the LA Clippers (30-14) twice, LA Lakers (24-23), Sacramento Kings (26-18), Philadelphia 76ers (29-15), Phoenix Suns (26-20), and Boston Celtics (35-11). Furthermore, four of these seven matchups are away games.
On Sunday, the discussion around Milwaukee’s rigorous upcoming schedule gained traction on X, previously known as Twitter, with numerous fans commenting on the team’s relatively easy early-season schedule.
“Bucks schedule thus far has been Charmin soft, second easiest in the league to this point. Time to actually go to work and see who this team is exactly,” one fan remarked.
Conversely, some fans bantered about Rivers’ appointment and whether he can orchestrate a turnaround for the team within a short span.
“With this defense?” one fan questioned.
“Doc should have waited a couple of weeks to sign,” another fan suggested.
Nevertheless, certain Bucks supporters view the tough schedule as a litmus test to ascertain if their team is a genuine NBA title contender:
“I kinda like it. It’s definitely BS, but it’s also an opportunity for this team to lock in and focus. They have trouble focusing against bad teams,” one fan expressed.
Here are a few more notable fan reactions to Milwaukee’s challenging late-season schedule:
Doc Rivers’ Decision to Join the Bucks Midseason Despite Daunting Schedule
Prior to his stint with Milwaukee, Doc Rivers had been on a hiatus from coaching, opting to work as an ESPN broadcaster. He had consistently conveyed his contentment in his broadcasting role. Hence, his sudden acceptance of the Bucks’ coaching position midseason caught some by surprise.
During his introductory press conference on Saturday, Rivers elucidated his rationale for embracing the job offer from Milwaukee. The former NBA champion emphasized his attraction to coaching superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard and contending for another championship.
Additionally, Rivers underscored the pivotal role played by Milwaukee’s veteran-laden roster in influencing his decision. According to the seasoned coach, this factor enhances the likelihood of the team embracing a new game plan midway through the season.
“The other thing is the way they’re built with the veterans and their grown-ups,” Rivers remarked.
“I thought that if you’re going to jump into this at this time of the year, this would be a type of group that you have the best opportunity to connect and change the quickest.”
The Bucks are in second place in the league for offensive rating (120.4) and defensive rating (116.3) as Rivers prepares to make his coaching debut. The question remains whether he can revamp their defensive prowess over the remaining 36 games leading up to the playoffs.
With 24 seasons under his belt, Rivers boasts a coaching record of 1097-763 (.590).