Doc Rivers didn't stop the Milwaukee Bucks from making mistakes during Sunday night's 120-97 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
Rivers has been a head coach in the NBA since 1999 and has represented five teams throughout his coaching career. He currently represents the Bucks, going through his third season with the franchise.
Milwaukee has played poorly throughout his tenure, with consecutive first-round exits and the future of the franchise is in question as Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially tests free agency in 2027. The team's loss to Chicago didn't help matters, losing 27–0 in complete games.
According to reporter Eric Nehm, Rivers reflected on the crushing defeat after the game. He highlighted inconsistent stretches that prevented Milwaukee from taking control, resulting in Chicago's surge in the contest's biggest moments.
"The good looks came after bad basketball in the first 11 minutes of the third quarter. In the second group, they gave us a 15-point lead. The first group came in before halftime, lost it and then got it and then lost it again. They lost two 15-point leads... I don't know if there is such a thing as a basketball god, but if there is, he was alive tonight," Rivers said.
"When you get that close to the game and play like that, you don't deserve to win. If we had won the game, I would have been upset. I would have won because we needed it, but that's not how you play basketball. I don't know how many jump shots we made in-between in the third. I can't wait to see it. It felt like every second shot was a dribble, 16 dribbles, a jump shot in between and a contested shot in between." That's the worst shot of the game, unless it's the last five seconds on the clock, so it was a disappointing loss and I hope we all feel that."
Doc Rivers, how the Bucks performed against the Bulls
Doc Rivers and the Bucks have some soul-searching to do. They may still be without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to injury, but they can't afford the loss against the Bulls.
Six players scored in double figures for Milwaukee in the loss. Bobby Portis led the team with a stat line of 18 points, five rebounds and one block. He made 7 of 14 shots from the field, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc. Cam Thomas finished second with 15 points and three assists, AJ Green had 13 points and two assists, while Ryan Rollins had 11 points and seven assists. Meanwhile, Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. provided 10 points each.
Milwaukee fell to a 26–33 record on the season, finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, while trailing the Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks.
The Bucks will look to bounce back in their next game at home. They will host the Boston Celtics as tip-off begins on March 2 at 7:30 PM ET.
