Former Warriors guard doubles down on Bucks being a 'beatable' team with Doc Rivers as head coach: "It's a pattern"
On Thursday, former NBA star Baron Davis doubled down on his statement about Doc Rivers' coaching fit with the Milwaukee Bucks. The team has had a rough start to the 2024-25 season, losing six straight games to sit at 1-6 in the Eastern Conference standings. Amid Milwaukee's early season hardships, Davis explained why the Bucks are a "beatable" team under Rivers.
The team's win in the first game against the Philadelphia 76ers without Joel Embiid has been its only one of the year. Milwaukee ranks 21st in the league in defense and 22nd in offense. They rank 24th out of 30 teams with a -6.3 net rating as of this writing.
When the Bucks had a 1-4 record, Davis appeared on "The Draymond Green Show" where he tore apart Rivers' coaching strategy.
"A Doc Rivers team is a beatable team. I don't give a f*** how much talent they got," Davis said.
Since then, Giannis Antetokounmpo and company have added more losses than wins to their record. Davis maintained his position regarding Rivers as a guest on Thursday's episode of "The Big Podcast with Shaq."
"When a coach got a system and the system trumps the players, then the players can't live out their capacity," Davis said. "They can have great games, but the team don't align."
"You bring Doc in, and now you defensive-minded, but your offense, you yun the same offense that you ran with the Celtics with Kevin Garnett, you ran the same offense you ran with the Clippers and now you trying to implement that in Milwaukee. That offense does not translate in these modern times. It's a pattern. Ain't no flow."
Milwaukee looks to end its losing streak Thursday against the Utah Jazz, a team with the same record at the bottom of the West standings.
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Bucks head coach not bothered by slow start
The Bucks have set their eyes on contending for the Larry O'Brien trophy this season but their campaign's sluggish start hasn't inspired much confidence.
The Athletic's Eric Nehm noted that in NBA history, 150 teams have started seasons with a 1-6 record since 1979 and only 12 teams have made the postseason. Despite the facts, Rivers remains unconcerned and thinks his club will make the playoffs this year.
Amid its struggles, Milwaukee isn't completely healthy yet. All-Star veteran Khris Middleton remains sidelined thanks to ankle surgeries and the organization has gradually worked on his return. The Bucks will hope to turn things around by the time he comes back to the floor before truly resembling a contending team.
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