Milwaukee’s new head coach, Doc Rivers, says “Fear the Deer” must be more than a catchphrase for the Bucks if they want to contend for an NBA title.
The Bucks formally introduced Rivers as their new coach at a news conference on Saturday — four days after abruptly firing Adrian Griffin despite a 30-13 record.
While they boasted the second-best winning percentage in the league when Griffin got the chop, the stout defense that helped Milwaukee to an NBA title in 2021 had been largely absent and there was a feeling the team, featuring two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo and eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard, wasn’t living up to its potential.
“I just think we have to find our identity,” Rivers said. “If you’re going to have ‘Fear the Deer’ you’ve got to fear the deer.”
To that end, Rivers said, beefing up a defense that has suffered with the loss of Jrue Holiday in the trade that brought offensive standout Lillard to the team would be a top priority.
“I sat in the stands last night and I saw some of it,” Rivers said, but added that the Bucks have the pieces they need to step it up on the defensive end.
“Our language and our communication defensively — we have to get that right. We’ve got to get on the same page.
“Jrue and Dame are different players, so we have to change some things for sure.”
Rivers will make his debut on the Bucks sideline on Monday, when Milwaukee will visit the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
Assistant Joe Prunty was to continue as interim coach on Saturday when the Bucks hosted New Orleans. The Bucks have split a pair of games against Cleveland under Prunty since Griffin was sacked.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Rivers said of taking over a team in mid-season. “It’s a challenge that I’m running towards.
“We’ve got to get organized quickly. Can’t try to do too much too soon. We’re in the middle of a season, so we’ve got to try to keep our rhythm (but) there are changes that we have to make, there’s no doubt about that.”
Playoff baggage
Rivers, 62, guided the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA title, but he was working as an ESPN commentator this season after he had been fired as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers in the wake of their playoff exit at the hands of the Celtics last May.
Since the Celtics’ 2008 triumph, Rivers has guided teams to 16 straight winning seasons, but he brings some playoff baggage to Milwaukee, having seen his teams toppled four times when leading a post-season series 3-2.
Rivers-coached teams have won only six of 16 playoff game-sevens played, but he said he had been contacted by more than one team interested in his coaching services this season.
“I wasn’t going to just take a job,” Rivers said. “I’ve been contacted several times this season and I wouldn’t even take the call. I was dead serious. If the right opportunity opened, I would listen. If not, I was fine.”
The “right opportunity” brings Rivers back to the city where he starred at Marquette University from 1980-83. His No. 31 Marquette jersey hangs in the rafters at the Fiserv Forum where the Bucks and the Marquette Golden Eagles play.
“Being back here is a dream,” Rivers said.
