Bucks Zone

The Bucks limp into the All-Star break, but Doc Rivers remains upbeat

Doc wants the Bucks to shape up.

Matthew Dugandzic

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The Milwaukee Bucks head into the All-Star break on a sour note after suffering two disappointing losses. Stumbling against the Miami Heat and the Memphis Grizzlies may be worrisome, but coach Doc Rivers remains defiant, believing that the Bucks can still make a deep run in the season.

Rivers remained undaunted even after the Bucks succumbed to an embarrassing 110-113 loss to the s Grizzlies on Thursday night. The Bucks were heavily favored in the contest after the Grizzlies played minus ten players, including starters.

Doc is undaunted

After the game, Rivers was asked if the loss would affect the team’s morale heading to the second half season.

“No. It doesn't do anything, it really doesn’t,” said Rivers.

Rivers is confident that the Bucks can recover, especially if they get Khris Middleton back. Middleton missed his fifth game on Thursday night due to a sprained ankle that he suffered in a 106-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns last week.

“We get to gather ourselves, get Khris (Middleton) back in a couple games hopefully I don't know when and just build from there,” said Rivers.

Doc urges team to shape up

The loss to Memphis came a day after Milwaukee faltered against a Miami Heat team that played without Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, and Josh Richardson. With the loss to the Grizzlies, the Bucks fell to 3-7 under Rivers. The Bucks will take a break occupying the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a 35-21 record.

While Doc remains confident of their chances, he admitted that the Bucks will have to start to get their acts together before things get out of hand.

“These losses, obviously..you don’t want to lose games like this. Does that change the way I think about the team and where I think we..no it doesn't at all. I got a lot of confidence in this group, but we gonna have to make changes as far as how we want to play every night,” said Rivers.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.