Doc Rivers’ Bucks Career Still on Hold as Assistant Coach Steps Up for the Big Occasion

The NBA World is eager to find out who will take over the Milwaukee Bucks head coaching job after the sudden departure of Adrian Griffin. The Bucks fired Griffin on Tuesday after only 43 games despite him doing a decent job. He led Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. to the 2nd spot in the East with a 30-13 record. Former 76ers head coach Doc Rivers is reportedly the frontrunner to fill the vacant head coaching position. However, the deal is yet to be finalized.

Meanwhile, the Bucks are ready to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. And an assistant coach has stepped up for the big occasion as Doc Rivers’ Bucks career remains on hold.

Who will coach the Bucks tonight?

The Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst said that they would not talk about Doc Rivers tonight and focus on the game against the Cavs. Bucks assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as the interim head coach for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. tonight. Prunty will hold onto that position until the Bucks finalize a new head coach. That puts a hold on Doc Rivers’ future with the Bucks.

According to reports, Rivers and the Bucks are interested in the deal. Doc Rivers served as a consultant to Adrian Griffin last month at the Bucks’ request. So, the former Champion knows what is going on with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. Meanwhile, fans and analysts speculate that the reason the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin was more than just his on-court performance. Griffin reportedly lost the trust of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Bucks locker room during the season. In his final days as the head coach, the Bucks front office constantly attended team practice, which is unusual unless a team is looking to make a big change.

How will the Bucks’ season turn out after the big move?

Adrian Griffin’s firing came as a shock because he was doing a great job. He became the second-most winningest head coach to get fired in NBA history. The last time something similar happened was when the Cleveland Cavaliers fired David Blatt in the 2015-16 season while they had a 30-11 record. The Cavs hired Tyronn Lue as the head coach and went on to win the Championship later that year. The Bucks may be hoping for a similar outcome.

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They have one of the most lethal offensive teams in the NBA. With Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo in peak form, they are practically unstoppable on offense. However, their defense this season has been abysmal. And that might ruin their chances in the playoffs. Maybe the Bucks’ front office realized that early and decided to fire Griffin for a coach with a more defensive mindset. It will be interesting to see how the season pans out for the Bucks following Griffin’s departure.

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