The excuses have run out for Glenn 'Doc' Rivers.
After the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated from the playoffs, Rivers trotted out his greatest hits: injuries, lack of star power, and — my personal favorite — "all the talk."
"Since I've been here I haven't had a healthy stretch," Rivers said. "It's been Giannis, it's been Dame. This year having only one quote-unquote 'star' and every other team has two and three... All the talk and all that stuff probably didn't help either."
Let me translate: Nothing is ever Doc Rivers' fault.
Since winning a championship in 2008 with the Boston Big Three — a title that came with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen all in their primes — Rivers has consistently underachieved with talented rosters. And every time, there's an excuse.
Injuries? Sure, they happen. But every team deals with injuries. The difference is that good coaches adjust. Great coaches find ways to win anyway. Doc? He points fingers and talks about how unfair it all is.
Let's talk about the Damian Lillard trade — the one that cost Milwaukee Jrue Holiday, one of the best two-way guards in the league. The Bucks gave up a champion and elite defender for an offensive star who can't guard anyone. Holiday went to Boston and won another championship. Dame and the Bucks? Early playoff exit.
Then there's the Adrian Griffin debacle. The Bucks started 30-13 under Griffin before the organization — reportedly influenced by Giannis Antetokounmpo — fired him mid-season and hired Rivers.
How'd that work out? The Bucks collapsed, missed the playoffs entirely this year, and now Giannis's championship window is closing fast.
