Bucks fire Griffin

[IWB]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39371240/sources-bucks-firing-first-year-head-coach-adrian-griffin

[shaquilvaine]

This whole scenario is a bit like Wojo. A supposedly defensive minded coach who couldn't coach defense. Reportedly they are looking at Doc Rivers for a replacement which would be awesome

[TheSultan]

This whole scenario is a bit like Wojo. A supposedly defensive minded coach who couldn't coach defense. Reportedly they are looking at Doc Rivers for a replacement which would be awesome

Eh. Never been all that impressed with Doc as a coach. Great locker room guy, but tactically?

[mufan2003]

Was never excited about the hire to begin with. Makes you wonder if they have their replacement ready to go. You don't fire a coach mid-season without a plan.....with a championship caliber team.

Doc Rivers name is obviously mentioned. Could they now bring back Terry Stotts who was very close to Damian Lillard in Portland?

After firing Budenholzer, I had hoped they would consider trying to get Jay Wright. Probably not a realistic possibility, but will be interesting to see if the new hire is unexpected.

Major issues on defense.

[mufan2003]

https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1749903075161014356?t=pYQIHMiwpkKHIiP_IzdzBg&s=19

[mufan2003]

https://x.com/wojespn/status/1749904489220538410?s=20

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1749902131283509691?s=20

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

Agreed, I love Doc's personality but he's had plenty of great teams that came up short. Though we saw what he did in Boston with three Hall of Famers. Here he would have at least two. I guess the real question is if there's anyone better you can get in the middle of the season.

[TheSultan]

No, and that means that Doc probably has the Bucks over a barrel to get a multi-year deal out of this. Moving on from Bud wasn't a bad decision, but this hire certainly was and now they are kind of stuck. I think they need to have Dame more in a modern, free flowing offense and I'm not sure that's Doc.

[DCwarrior]

The coach the Bucks should have went after hard this past off-season is Doc’s replacement in Philly. Nick Nurse is a really good coach

[MUfan12]

I'd rather have Kenny Atkinson but Doc is still an upgrade.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

I'd go for Becky Hammon. Runs the fastest tempo and highest efficiency offense in the WNBA, also the highest efficiency defense. Sat next to Popovich for 9 years, then after getting passed over for NBA gigs went to the WNBA and had the league's best record two straight seasons and won two straight titles, going 16-3 in the playoffs.

They won't hire her, but she's the right person for the job and where the list should start and end.

[MUBasketball]

I'd go for Becky Hammon. Runs the fastest tempo and highest efficiency offense in the WNBA, also the highest efficiency defense. Sat next to Popovich for 9 years, then after getting passed over for NBA gigs went to the WNBA and had the league's best record two straight seasons and won two straight titles, going 16-3 in the playoffs.

They won't hire her, but she's the right person for the job and where the list should start and end.

I mean, a franchise with a tight window to win another title should put all their eggs in being the first pro sports franchise to hire a woman as a HC? There’s no better option? Based on what, sitting next to a successful coach for a few years?

You sound like her agent! Lol

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

What are the other options? Honestly? Doc Rivers, who has underachieved repeatedly with elite talent? Budenholzer again, who would've been fired had he not come back from down 2-0 twice?

There is no surefire bet. But there's the person who's been the best candidate in the league for years and has been passed up repeatedly because of her gender, then went and dominated the best job she could get. If Hammon was a man, she would already have a HC job in the NBA, there is zero doubt of that.

There are two reasons to not hire her: sexism and fear.

[MUfan12]

Yes, I'm afraid to hire another rookie head coach. Male or female.

[mufan2003]

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/1/23/24048664/milwaukee-bucks-fire-adrian-griffin-doc-rivers-rumors

[mufan2003]

TNT crew (via CNN) reporting Doc Rivers has accepted the Milwaukee Bucks coaching position.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

Now there are reports that it's not Doc. :confused:

[2012Warrior]

I'm guessing it will end up being Doc and they don't want to announce it so soon.

I don't know that you throw Becky Hammon into this whirlwind. It was bad enough with one first time head coach. I'd prefer Doc who has seen it all in the NBA. Atkinson seems like another potential. I think he was the runner up to Griffin and seems to be pretty innovative.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

Bill Simmons apparently said it was Doc and they had a podcast together, so if it's not pen to paper done, it still seems likely that an agreement has been reached.

[TheSultan]

What are the other options? Honestly? Doc Rivers, who has underachieved repeatedly with elite talent? Budenholzer again, who would've been fired had he not come back from down 2-0 twice?

There is no surefire bet. But there's the person who's been the best candidate in the league for years and has been passed up repeatedly because of her gender, then went and dominated the best job she could get. If Hammon was a man, she would already have a HC job in the NBA, there is zero doubt of that.

There are two reasons to not hire her: sexism and fear.

Look, I have no doubt that sexism plays a role here. But it's also a clear unknown element. She is a very good coach, but she took over a Las Vegas team that had back to back years as the first seed in the WNBA Western Conference - a proven veteran team. Yes, she took them to the next level, but that's really no different than what Bud did in Milwaukee.

My point isn't that she's a bad coach or doesn't deserve her chance on an NBA bench. But you are claiming something as a slam dunk when there are other factors involved.

And like MuFan12, I think this is a bad place to put a rookie coach. I'm not a huge fan of Doc as a coach, but he is a great locker room guy, and my guess is they need that right now more than anything.

[shaquilvaine]

Griffin clearly had lost the team and there were red flags. Terry Stotts resigning so early, Giannis asking him to abandon his defensive philosophy and go back to their drop defense with Lopez protecting the rim, and Portis calling out the coach in front of the team after the In season tournament loss to the pacers. Portis apparently said they weren't running any set plays down the stretch and needed more direction. One thing Doc will bring is he will be immediately respected by the team. They need to change the culture and he will do that.

[Marquette]

Griffin lost the team
Can't hire another rookie
Take a chance on a female coach? Will players respond to her? Will players listen to her when she yells at them and criticizes them?

Whether its a male or female that is a really big chance to take with so much on the line. Bucks just took a chance on an unproven coach and it cost them millions.

[MUfan12]

Given the situation I'm fine with it. I liked Kenny Atkinson a lot, but that's a hard situation for the Warriors staff just having tragically lost an assistant coach.

The fixes don't have to be complicated. Free up Dame more offensively, pack in the defense a little more to help hide some of their shortcomings. What they do between now and the trade deadline probably has just as much impact as the coaching change.

[TheSultan]

I have no doubt that NBA players would respond to a female coach if she were competent. Just like any male coach. These guys want to be coached and they want to win.

[mufan2003]

And then there's this:

https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1750185571832504365

I like both players, so it would have to return a nice piece.

[mufan2003]

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1750214886913925591

Doc Rivers and Bucks general manager Jon Horst will collaboratively work together on coaching staff personnel with the expectation of adding to an already great group of coaches the organization values, sources say.

https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1750200011160478126

[DCwarrior]

Looks like Doc to Bucks is final now. Based on his prior coaching history - we should expect the Bucks to lose a game 7 in the Conference Semifinals

[2012Warrior]

Looks like Doc to Bucks is final now. Based on his prior coaching history - we should expect the Bucks to lose a game 7 in the Conference Semifinals

"Bucks in 6, since we will lose in 7"

[TheSultan]

"Bucks in 6, since we will lose in 7"

Brilliant.

[shaquilvaine]

https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2024/01/24/milwaukee-bucks-doc-rivers-new-head-coach-

[mufan2003]

I agree with this.....best opportunity Doc has had since the Celtics of 2008 (NBA champions) and 2010 (NBA Finals loss to Lakers). Better roster than the Clippers and Sixers teams he coached who were considered contenders. The East is tough, Celtics as the favorites right now. Improved and tough teams in Philly, Cleveland, Miami, Indiana and even Orlando. It will not be easy.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1752129990420742474