The All-Star break is so close players can almost feel it.
Under the helm of new coach Doc Rivers, the Milwaukee Bucks are encountering a rocky start. With 10 games under Rivers’ leadership since he replaced Adrian Griffin, the Bucks’ performance has been less than stellar.
The team’s record stands at 3–7 during the Rivers era, with the latest setback coming from a Thursday night defeat against the Memphis Grizzlies, 113–110. The Bucks head into the All-Star break following consecutive losses, prompting Rivers to voice concerns about players disengaging prematurely.
Addressing the post-game atmosphere, Rivers remarked, “We had some guys here. We had some guys in Cabo.” This comment, as reported by Eric Nehm of The Athletic, suggests dissatisfaction with the team’s focus.
Despite facing a shorthanded Grizzlies squad, missing key players like Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, the Bucks failed to secure a victory. Memphis’s rising star GG Jackson contributed significantly, tallying 27 points, tied with Ziaire Williams for the team’s high.
Milwaukee’s three-point shooting proved dismal during the loss, with a mere 25% accuracy rate from beyond the arc, hitting only 11-of-44 attempts. Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s impressive 35-point, 13-assist double-double, the Bucks succumbed to their seventh loss in the last 10 games.
The decision to replace Griffin with Rivers, made while the team held the No. 2 seed in the East, drew scrutiny. However, the early returns on the coaching change have yet to yield positive results for the Bucks.
Expressing discontent with the team’s performance, Rivers didn’t mince words in criticizing the Bucks’ lack of focus in their final game before the All-Star weekend.
