Bucks Fire Adrian Griffin

[jpotter33]

According to Kevin O'Connor of the Ringer, whatever magic wand Doc has waved over the Bucks has now made them the team to beat in the East.

Milwaukee is only 8-8 since firing Adrian Griffin and calling a drastic audible on its season. But don’t let that average record fool you: The Bucks have flipped the script since hiring Doc Rivers. Under Griffin, they owned the NBA’s no. 22 ranked defense. Under Rivers, they are up to no. 6, thanks to a blend of smarter schemes, increased effort, and improved in-game adjustments. Now the Bucks are not just playoff bound, but looking more like the Eastern Conference team to beat.

The national TV game against Boston on March 20 is the big one. If the Bucks are still rolling then, the national discourse will undoubtedly be about who the true favorite is in the East. Truth is, it might already be the Bucks. If their newfound success on defense sustains, they are a well-rounded juggernaut, plus they have the best player in any East series in Giannis. And Lillard, despite his ups and downs this season, is still the best, most efficient, and clutch perimeter shot creator in the conference.

All it took was a handful of practices and an All-Star break for Doc to bleach out the stains left by his predecessor. But no matter how dire things were behind the scenes, most front offices wouldn’t fire a head coach who had led his team to a 30-13 record in the first year of his contract. Most teams would want to save face, or at least save money. But the Bucks made a gutsy call, and it just might have saved their season and given the franchise another shot at glory.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/2/28/24085544/milwaukee-bucks-defense-giannis-antetokounmpo-doc-rivers

Ole Kevin O'Verreact strikes again!

Pretty outlandish take for several reasons. Not only are we the better team all season long with a 9 full game lead on Milwaukee, we are currently playing even better basketball than Milwaukee during their "streak" since Rivers has become coach. And the point that KOC points to in supporting his argument - them being up to #6 in defense, while conveniently forgetting to mention that their offense has taken a major step back under Doc, too - further crumbles his argument with Boston being #2 in defensive rating and # 1 offensive rating and net rating.

I generally like KOC, but this is clickbait nonsense.

[Kernewek]

We shouldn't overlook what 'more' is doing in that first paragraph, though, which is making it a one-team comparison.

As in:

Milwaukee is only 8-8 since firing Adrian Griffin and calling a drastic audible on its season. But don’t let that average record fool you: The Bucks have flipped the script since hiring Doc Rivers. Under Griffin, they owned the NBA’s no. 22 ranked defense. Under Rivers, they are up to no. 6, thanks to a blend of smarter schemes, increased effort, and improved in-game adjustments. The Bucks are not just playoff-bound, [they are] looking more like the Eastern Conference team to beat

or: they look much more like a top team in the East than they did before.

Vs.

Milwaukee is only 8-8 since firing Adrian Griffin and calling a drastic audible on its season. But don’t let that average record fool you: The Bucks have flipped the script since hiring Doc Rivers. Under Griffin, they owned the NBA’s no. 22 ranked defense. Under Rivers, they are up to no. 6, thanks to a blend of smarter schemes, increased effort, and improved in-game adjustments. The Bucks are not just playoff-bound, [they are] looking like the Eastern Conference team to beat

or: they now look like the top team in the East, and didn't before.

The rest of it, yeah - he's trying to find some angle that isn't 'Boston is the best team in the East', which is hard because it's essentially counterfactual.

[SHAQATTACK]

We shouldn't overlook what 'more' is doing in that first paragraph, though, which is making it a one-team comparison.

As in:

Milwaukee is only 8-8 since firing Adrian Griffin and calling a drastic audible on its season. But don’t let that average record fool you: The Bucks have flipped the script since hiring Doc Rivers. Under Griffin, they owned the NBA’s no. 22 ranked defense. Under Rivers, they are up to no. 6, thanks to a blend of smarter schemes, increased effort, and improved in-game adjustments. The Bucks are not just playoff-bound, [they are] looking more like the Eastern Conference team to beat

or: they look much more like a top team in the East than they did before.

Vs.

Milwaukee is only 8-8 since firing Adrian Griffin and calling a drastic audible on its season. But don’t let that average record fool you: The Bucks have flipped the script since hiring Doc Rivers. Under Griffin, they owned the NBA’s no. 22 ranked defense. Under Rivers, they are up to no. 6, thanks to a blend of smarter schemes, increased effort, and improved in-game adjustments. The Bucks are not just playoff-bound, [they are] looking like the Eastern Conference team to beat

or: they now look like the top team in the East, and didn't before.

The rest of it, yeah - he's trying to find some angle that isn't 'Boston is the best team in the East', which is hard because it's essentially counterfactual.

He is having a hard time swallowing reality

[Vermont Green]

Sometimes a new coach, a new voice, results in a spark that changes the attitude of the team.  It isn't always about this or that coach being better or worse than another coach.

MIL will be a tough playoff team no matter who the coach is.  I am not so sure they are the team to beat in the East, that is clearly a position currently held by the Celtics, but they are still a very talented team with 2 legit stars.  Doc is a good enough coach to lead them.  Maybe Griffin was also, I don't know, but they seem to be listening to Doc so far.

[RMO]

According to Kevin O'Connor of the Ringer, whatever magic wand Doc has waved over the Bucks has now made them the team to beat in the East.

Milwaukee is only 8-8 since firing Adrian Griffin and calling a drastic audible on its season. But don’t let that average record fool you: The Bucks have flipped the script since hiring Doc Rivers. Under Griffin, they owned the NBA’s no. 22 ranked defense. Under Rivers, they are up to no. 6, thanks to a blend of smarter schemes, increased effort, and improved in-game adjustments. Now the Bucks are not just playoff bound, but looking more like the Eastern Conference team to beat.

The national TV game against Boston on March 20 is the big one. If the Bucks are still rolling then, the national discourse will undoubtedly be about who the true favorite is in the East. Truth is, it might already be the Bucks. If their newfound success on defense sustains, they are a well-rounded juggernaut, plus they have the best player in any East series in Giannis. And Lillard, despite his ups and downs this season, is still the best, most efficient, and clutch perimeter shot creator in the conference.

All it took was a handful of practices and an All-Star break for Doc to bleach out the stains left by his predecessor. But no matter how dire things were behind the scenes, most front offices wouldn’t fire a head coach who had led his team to a 30-13 record in the first year of his contract. Most teams would want to save face, or at least save money. But the Bucks made a gutsy call, and it just might have saved their season and given the franchise another shot at glory.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/2/28/24085544/milwaukee-bucks-defense-giannis-antetokounmpo-doc-rivers

Ole Kevin O'Verreact strikes again!

Pretty outlandish take for several reasons. Not only are we the better team all season long with a 9 full game lead on Milwaukee, we are currently playing even better basketball than Milwaukee during their "streak" since Rivers has become coach. And the point that KOC points to in supporting his argument - them being up to #6 in defense, while conveniently forgetting to mention that their offense has taken a major step back under Doc, too - further crumbles his argument with Boston being #2 in defensive rating and # 1 offensive rating and net rating.

I generally like KOC, but this is clickbait nonsense.

I think he goes out of his way to tone down any perception of a pro-Boston tilt in his articles to distance himself from his boss' persona

[Celtics2021]

According to Kevin O'Connor of the Ringer, whatever magic wand Doc has waved over the Bucks has now made them the team to beat in the East.

Milwaukee is only 8-8 since firing Adrian Griffin and calling a drastic audible on its season. But don’t let that average record fool you: The Bucks have flipped the script since hiring Doc Rivers. Under Griffin, they owned the NBA’s no. 22 ranked defense. Under Rivers, they are up to no. 6, thanks to a blend of smarter schemes, increased effort, and improved in-game adjustments. Now the Bucks are not just playoff bound, but looking more like the Eastern Conference team to beat.

The national TV game against Boston on March 20 is the big one. If the Bucks are still rolling then, the national discourse will undoubtedly be about who the true favorite is in the East. Truth is, it might already be the Bucks. If their newfound success on defense sustains, they are a well-rounded juggernaut, plus they have the best player in any East series in Giannis. And Lillard, despite his ups and downs this season, is still the best, most efficient, and clutch perimeter shot creator in the conference.

All it took was a handful of practices and an All-Star break for Doc to bleach out the stains left by his predecessor. But no matter how dire things were behind the scenes, most front offices wouldn’t fire a head coach who had led his team to a 30-13 record in the first year of his contract. Most teams would want to save face, or at least save money. But the Bucks made a gutsy call, and it just might have saved their season and given the franchise another shot at glory.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/2/28/24085544/milwaukee-bucks-defense-giannis-antetokounmpo-doc-rivers

Ole Kevin O'Verreact strikes again!

Pretty outlandish take for several reasons. Not only are we the better team all season long with a 9 full game lead on Milwaukee, we are currently playing even better basketball than Milwaukee during their "streak" since Rivers has become coach. And the point that KOC points to in supporting his argument - them being up to #6 in defense, while conveniently forgetting to mention that their offense has taken a major step back under Doc, too - further crumbles his argument with Boston being #2 in defensive rating and # 1 offensive rating and net rating.

I generally like KOC, but this is clickbait nonsense.

It’s also completely reliant on a small sample size.  The Bucks in games between when Doc was hired and the All-Star break were 19th in defensive rating, not materially different from their placement with Griffin.  Since the All-Star Break they’ve played four games — three of them were against the Embiid-less Sixers and the Hornets without Lonzo Ball, which are very poor offenses.  These games moved them from 19th since Doc took over to 6th (actually 5th).  We can check in on this stat again when the Bucks finish their upcoming West coast trip in a couple weeks, and I have a feeling we’ll find them in the mid-teens for the Doc era.

[Vermont Green]

Strength of schedule tends to average out by this point in the season but the Celtics have had the 5th toughest schedule to date (per ESPN) and MIL has had the 29th toughest.  There is no way that the rest of the league believes that MIL is the team to beat in the East.  That is just nonsense.  But MIL is still a good team.

As to Doc, I believe he knows what it takes for an NBA team to win.  Like most coaches, teams only seem to listen to him for so long.  PHI got tired of listening to him.  It is just the way it goes unless you are winning championships like GSW or SAN a few years back.  Right now, MIL is probably listening to him.  It appears they are focusing more on defense.  Doc probably said, "if you want to win a title, this is what you need to do".  The team bought it.

Looking at the stats, MIL has a season pace average of 101.6 vs. a pace average of 97.6 for the last 8 games.  Their DRtg for the season is 114.9 vs. 102.7 for the last 8 games.  Sounds like they are slowing it down and playing better defense.  That is probably coming from Doc.  We'll see if this holds up against better teams.  (Note:  Those 8 recent games are 4 at home, 4 on the road).

[Phantom255x]

It's funny. The Celtics beat the Sixers by 18 and it's crickets. "No Embiid". Meanwhile the Bucks do pretty much the same and it's some "statement". I fully acknowledge the Wolves win was impressive no doubt. But their last two games were against the Hornets. Right before the Break they lost to the Grizzlies and were blown out by Miami right before.

Milwaukee's next 9 games are @CHI, LAC, @GSW, @LAL, @LAC, @SAC, PHI, PHO, BOS.

I've been pretty consistent that I don't fear Milwaukee and that's my opinion. But I'm fair and am willing to change it. But show me how they do the next 9 games to let me know if they've "turned it around" and are "the team to beat".