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Sixers

Doc Rivers is 0-2 with Bucks and Already Getting Ripped

Kevin Kinkead

By Kevin Kinkead

Published:

The Bucks are 0-2 since Doc Rivers took over and they lost in Portland Wednesday night on Dame Lillard’s first trip back:

Doc is getting chewed up for how the game ended. The Bucks were down by three, with four seconds left, and he had Lillard inbound the ball to Giannis. Obviously Portland was going to foul, to prevent Milwaukee from getting up a game-tying three. Giannis didn’t/couldn’t get the ball back to Lillard off the inbound, went to the line, missed both, and the Bucks lost.

There are a couple of different thoughts here. You’re in a situation where you’re trying to make the first free throw and miss the second. Giannis has no issue missing free throws, but at 66%, making the first one is no guarantee. And when he’s on the line you lose his rebounding ability, so they had Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis down there instead. The criticism is that Doc should have put the ball in Lillard’s hands (92.5% free throw shooter), let him get fouled, he makes the first one, then bricks the second, and Giannis is at the rim for a second-chance opportunity to tie.

Of course, it’s not the only play of the game. Brook Lopez bombed a three pointer on the prior possession, when they were down one and had a chance to take the lead. There was some bonehead stuff throughout, but Doc is getting ripped just two games in.

Kevin Kinkead
Kevin Kinkead

Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com

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