Bucks struggling since coaching change

Doc Rivers (Google Images)

It appears the midseason coaching change has not benefitted the Milwaukee Bucks very much. Since naming Doc Rivers of Chicago, Illinois as their new head coach on January 26 after firing Adrian Griffin, remarkably Milwaukee has a record of only three wins and seven losses.

On Thursday, right before the NBA All-Star break, the Bucks lost one of their most notable games of the season, as they were upset 113-110 to the Memphis Grizzlies of all teams. The Bucks were unable to defend Grizzlies’s second round pick and rookie power forward GG Jackson II of Columbia, South Carolina, who matched a career-high with 27 points. This was only Memphis’s second win in their last 11 games.

During this struggling stretch for the Bucks, Milwaukee has been beaten 113-107 to the Denver Nuggets on January 29, lost 119-116 to the Portland Trail Blazers on January 31, lost 123-108 to the Utah Jazz on February 4, lost 114-106 to the Phoenix Suns on February 6, lost 129-105 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 8, and lost 123-97 to the Miami Heat on February 13. One could argue that the best game the Bucks have had since firing Griffin was with interim head coach Joe Prunty in charge. On January 27, the Bucks clobbered the New Orleans Pelicans 141-117.

The Bucks are still in relatively good shape. But one needs to ask if the firing of Griffin was necessary when Milwaukee was at a very respectable 30 wins and 13 losses with the former Toronto Raptors assistant coach in charge. The Bucks head into the break at 35 wins and 21 losses, and are third in the Eastern Conference.

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