SPORTS LINE

Doc Rivers is no stranger to either the sidelines or the broadcast booth.
When he left the ESPN booth abruptly this season to coach the Milwaukee Bucks, it marked the second time in his career that he left the broadcast desk to return to coaching. This time around, it’s been a little different, as Rivers and the Bucks have been challenged so far. There is no doubt regarding the Milwaukee Bucks’ offensive capabilities. On a team that features two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and seven-time All-NBA team member Damian Lillard, scoring the rock shouldn’t be a problem. However, as far as Bucks coach Doc Rivers is concerned, his team should focus on developing their identity from the defensive end. “Taking a job when you’re about to go on the toughest road trip of the season is not the smartest decision,” Rivers admitted. “I even told them that: ‘Can we wait ’til All-Star break?’ You know, it would have been a lot nicer,” Rivers added.

Coming off two impressive wins wherein they kept their opponents from scoring 100 points, the Bucks seemingly dropped their guard against the Heat. They allowed Miami to shoot 51 percent from the field and tallied only 24 assists against a whopping 18 turnovers, much to Rivers’ chagrin. The Bucks’ lack of effort and focus in moving the ball eventually bled over to defense. With the Bucks’ offense not working well, several players tried to take over the game to get back into it. However, this, too, did not work in their favor. Doc said they’ll take this game and put it under a microscope to see what happened and how to improve. Milwaukee hired Rivers (amid unusual circumstances) in late January.