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Contenders or pretenders? NBA Today debates the Milwaukee Bucks under Doc Rivers



Contenders or pretenders? NBA Today debates the Milwaukee Bucks under Doc Rivers

The Knicks are filing a protest with the NBA to dispute the 105 103 loss to the rockets that was on Monday now remember crew chief Ed Maloy said right after the game that it was an incorrect call that was made so perk do you think this gets

Reversed it should I mean the the evidence is there he admitted right he had the wire on him he went into the room and admitted that they got it wrong why shouldn’t it be it will not be reversed I think should and will or two different things it’s only happened six

Times in NBA you want a bet I’ll bet whatever you want oh I like this right from one burrow to another the Celtics they were in Brooklyn Tatum dropped 41 in a win Boston is now 30 Games over 500 that is the fastest they’ve reached that

Mark since perks 08 title Team Chan are there some trophies that are coming to Boston oh yeah it can not only be the NBA Finals they win it all but it also is when are we going to start saying JT for MVP best player best team like out

Of the yeah that works that’s the best part all right from one number one seed to the other the Timberwolves they beat the Trailblazers on Tuesday Anthony Edwards had 41 points Brian how important is it for the Wolves to hold on to that top spot well it’s important

Because they haven’t won a playoff series since ant was in diapers and if you think I’m making a joke I not 2004 although I don’t know when he started potty training so I don’t know I guess for 100% but they need offense they need offense they have great defense they are

They going to need performances like this from him occasionally in the postseason and he’s up to it on to Milwaukee where the Heats they had a wir to wire Victory versus the Bucks they won 123 to 97 so now there’s three and six under Doc Rivers the Bucks also

Failed to reach 100 points in a home game for the first time this season Giannis he had zero free throws in a game for the first time since last February let’s look at the look at the numbers here because the heat they torched the Bucks their 26o win gives

The Bucks their worst home loss the season Doc Rivers has coached the bucks for nine games right two of their three 20o losses have come since he took over here so perk you said that the Bucks game against the Denver nuggets that was on Monday that was a must-win game and

They did win right and then they got waxed by the Miami Heat so is this just one game is this something is it nothing oh it’s everything they’re Pretenders that’s what you’re asking me if is if they are contenders or Pretenders they’re Pretenders and here’s why I look

At a young team in Minnesota and I watch them go into crypto.com Arena and they stun well they gave the Clippers a spanking okay and then they traveled and went to Portland on the back to back and they went got a dove howed their business in great fashion this same

Situation with Milwaukee you get a great win against the Denver Nuggets you don’t have to travel you stay at home and all of a sudden Miami Heat coming there with no Jimmy Butler and they smack you on your home court it’s a mentality it’s a mentality you know that these backto

Backs are coming up and you know how look so being in the Doc Rivers locker room doc used to always preach look ahead meaning then look at the schedule make sure you do the necessary things you need to do make sure you hold yourself accountable get your work in

Get your treatment in be prepared because of this stretch that we’re about to have and let’s get both of them okay perk if we’re going to look at the schedule can we also look at the standings because you have to give Doc Rivers room to cook and in this small

Nine game sample size and you look at the standings they have really a great opportunity even as they’re trying to find their identity lock up third if they’re able to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals and write their wrongs they’re right up there and look look because like honestly the two teams

Below them the Knicks and the 76ers are dealing with health and availability the Pacers have a couple games you know off of them and so they’re pretty much firmly locked into this two or three best or worst case scenario and in Doc River’s short tenure I looked it up

They’re 10th in defense and they’re the best fast break defense in the NBA don’t you know coach Rivers coaches defense so it’s going to take a little while for them to really find their form but if they’re able to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals you’re not a pretender

You’re a contender see this is the thing right Doc is a is an offensive genius okay he always have somebody on the sideline that’s going to be his defensive coordinator okay so this is a teacher moment I’m giving you free game see when we was in Boston he had he was

The offensive coordinator tibs ran the defense that’s why we were so good he hired Coach Dave y we know his resume when he was with marol and Zack Randolph with the Memphis Grizzlies Chan they were number two in the Eastern Conference when they fired their coach like the standards with the Milwaukee

Bucks and actually watching the game and seeing the ey test and their mentality well isn’t that why they got Bev though yeah but right to hold them accountable defensively but what I’m saying you did say here you don’t go from you don’t go from here to here overnight and I gave

You an example of a young team that’s trying to prove themselves that are are proving themselves in the Minnesota timber wolves it’s a mentality that you have to have you can go back to the Golden State Warrior days right when they were winning championships they they had some of the

Best back-to-back records in the league because it was a mental thing so that win versus the Nuggets doesn’t give you anything well here’s where I’m here’s where I’m here’s where I’m I’m I’m with you is that I I I think that the Denver Nuggets win it I mean we’re talking

About the second night of a back toback I’m not putting anything more than this is one game into the game against the Miami Heat specifically and I think this is something not because of the Miami Heat game but because when we do see the Milwaukee Bucks lose it’s the same issue

Over and over that really doesn’t have like the Miami Heat game is not what convinced me of that Brian it’s just that when they lose this these are their issues and that’s what concerned there are some indications like CH just talked about where their defense is improving

Their offense is also backslid which is why all of a sudden we’re seeing a little bit of Lop slide and stuff because their offense was so great before that even when they they didn’t defend they were in every game so their process is a little bit better but perk

I I can’t present a strong case right now to disagree with you because the the record is the record I’m sort of going on Blind Faith at just a little bit of improvement but I’m not I haven’t made up my mind yet about where the Bucks are

Going have they I mean I mean I just I’d like to sit here and say that it’s definitely getting better and there’s some Fingerprints of that but I can’t for sure say that Malika what I think what I think we have to ask ourselves is what are their expectations seriously

Like realistically you you have Dame and you have Giannis you bought back the other guys Brook Lopez was one of the most attractive free agents in the off season you get back Chris midon like what are their expectations so if if it is the finals then we can’t look at this

Team and say that this team is a a team that we expect to be in the finals

NBA Today’s Kendrick Perkins and Chiney Ogwumike discuss the Milwaukee Bucks’ 3-6 run under new coach Doc Rivers and debate if they can contend come playoff time.

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31 Comments

  1. Bucks were injured most of the time Doc has coach and now are trying to figure things out. Why we discussing this even before the all star break? Talk about it when we’re a 5 or 10 games away 😂 teams still figuring it out

  2. The Bucks also blew the Celtics out on a back to back but when the bucks on a back to back and get blown out they are pretenders?😂😂😂

  3. Remember when the bucks blew out the celtics earlier this season but it was discredited since it was a back to back? How is this any different?

  4. As a bucks I’m speaking for all of us when I say we basically living on game to game basics now but the level hope is not as high as the beginning the season😒, hopefully we get it together… let’s go Bucks💪🦌

  5. Doc rivers is the definition of a privilege coach but no one will ever mention it though this guy gotta have some dirt on Adam Silver : o 🌈

  6. The Bucks will be just fine. The playoffs is all that matters. Still lots of games left to get better in the season.

  7. When is the NBA and ESPN gonna learn that Doc Rivers is overrated 😂😂. The Celtics won the chip on their own and not because of Doc he wasn’t the reason they won

  8. "You don't go from here to here overnight"

    Bro said that, but expect a sudden coaching change to make an impact right away lol. Perk does not watch Bucks games & it shows, same with most these people in the comments lol. Their defense is already better than when Griffin had them. Since Doc started coaching them, they've allowed 113ppg, whereas with Griffin they allowed 120ppg. Allowing only 113ppg would be ranked around 11th best, better than some notable teams like OKC, Philly, Phoenix, Lakers, Warriors, Mavs, Kings, Pacers. Their fastbreak defense has been ranked top 4th, whereas with Griffin it was ranked 23rd. Their 2nd chance points allowed is ranked 10th, whereas with Griffin it was ranked 23rd. Their points allowed in the paint is ranked 12th, whereas with Griffin it was ranked 25th.

    They've been losing under Doc, but like I said, the man just literally started coaching this team on the fly, he had no training camps, & likely had never met or interacted with any of these players before. A good example of how great their defense could be is that game against Denver, I mean that's a top team right there & they locked them down all game. They were full court pressing the entire game, fighting over every screen or making the right switches. AJ Green, who's not even known for defense (yall probably don't even know who he is, probably thinking about the football player 😂), he was amazing defensively in that game, shut down Murray on multiple plays. They held the Nuggets to 95pts, that's 20pts below their average, and a 38% FG%. They'll be fine, regular season for them after a coaching change is just to find their rhythm now. The team looks a lot happier under Doc. If you don't think so, go watch BBALLBREAKDOWN's video called "The REAL Reason Adrian Griffin Was Fired By The Bucks."

  9. It's scary because at the moment they're still figuring out and for sure they'll get better and better. As long as Giannis is in Milwaukee they're contender.

  10. It's scary because at the moment they're still figuring out and for sure they'll get better and better. As long as Giannis is in Milwaukee they're contender.

  11. The Bucks will be a second round exit. They just can't play defense. The trade for Lillard torched any hope they have of a valid perimeter defense.

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