Social media clowns head coach Doc Rivers after abysmal start with Milwaukee Bucks
YouTube: Official NBA on ESPNSocial media clowns head coach Doc Rivers after a shaky 1-3 start with the Milwaukee Bucks
In January, the Milwaukee Bucks relieved head coach Adrian Griffin of his duties while the team sat in second place in the Eastern Conference — but replacement head coach Doc Rivers is already catching heat from fans online.
Almost immediately, sources around the NBA mentioned Doc Rivers as a potential replacement for Griffin. Less than 48 hours later, the Bucks officially named Rivers their next head coach.
The move was initially met with mixed reviews. Some fans loved the idea of a proven veteran like Rivers taking the reins. He won an NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and has led the charge for several playoff teams in his coaching career.
Others brought up the 62-year-old’s shortcomings, namely a long list of postseason collapses. In Rivers’ career, his team has blown a 3-1 playoff series lead on three separate occasions, including two times with the Los Angeles Clippers.
After beginning his Bucks tenure with a shaky 1-3 start, the Rivers detractors have made their voices heard on social media.
Doc Rivers’ abysmal start with the Milwaukee Bucks
In his first matchup as the head coach for Milwaukee, Rivers’ squad suffered a six-point loss to the Denver Nuggets. Two nights later, the lowly Portland Trail Blazers stole a victory against the Bucks.
To Rivers’ credit, his team responded well in his third game at the helm with a double-digit beatdown of the Dallas Mavericks. But the following contest saw the Bucks blow a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, only to lose to the Utah Jazz by 15 points — a 29-point swing in 12 minutes of play.
Fans on social media quickly let the jokes fly, with some saying, “I told you so.” The word “fraud” has also been thrown around, as NBA fans are pulling no punches when discussing Rivers.
While it is easy to dog pile on the long-time head coach, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo came to Rivers’ defense by saying the team “is going to be very, very fine.”
Milwaukee currently sits at 33-17, good for second place in the East, but only two games ahead of the fifth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. As the second half of the NBA season gains steam, Rivers and Co. must right the ship to fend off other contenders in the conference.
