JJ Redick does not wish to hear any extra excuses from Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers. Whereas showing on ESPN’s First Take, Redick did not draw back from harsh criticism of his former coach, who spoke throughout All-Star Weekend concerning the difficulties of coming in midseason to take another person’s job. Rivers was employed in late January after the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin, and since then, Milwaukee has gone simply 3-7. Rivers stated that taking up the Bucks job has been “in all probability tougher than I assumed,” however Redick was fed up with listening to the justifications.
“I’ve seen the development for years; the development is all the time making excuses,” said Redick, who performed beneath Rivers for 4 years (2013-17) once they have been each with the Clippers.
“Doc, we get it. Taking up a crew in the midst of the season is difficult… identical to getting traded in the midst of the season is difficult for a participant. We get it. But it surely’s all the time an excuse. It is all the time throwing your crew beneath the bus.”
Redick additionally took subject with Rivers’ feedback following Milwaukee’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies of their remaining sport earlier than the All-Star break. The Bucks misplaced 113-110 to a Grizzlies crew that did not play any starters or important function gamers, whereas Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, and the remainder of Milwaukee’s rotation performed heavy minutes. After that loss, Rivers stated, “We had some guys right here, we had some guys in Cabo,” questioning his gamers’ effort.
“They lose to Memphis, ‘oh it is his gamers’ fault,'” Redick stated. “Memphis was taking part in G League guys and two-way guys.”
Redick ended his rant by calling out Rivers’ feedback after he stated the Clippers consulted him earlier than making the blockbuster commerce that landed them James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers.
“You then take a look at his quotes over the weekend; now he needs to take credit score for the James Harden commerce to the Clippers figuring out?” Redick stated. “He needs credit score for that? There’s by no means accountability with that man.”
Redick performed beneath Rivers for 4 years once they have been each with the Los Angeles Clippers, so there is a private historical past of understanding how he’s as a coach. And from the sounds of it, Redick clearly has robust opinions about how Rivers, as he views it, does not take accountability when his crew does not reside as much as expectations.
Certainly one of Rivers’ present gamers, Patrick Beverley, took to social media to defend his coach and name out Redick. Beverley, who performed for Rivers with the Clippers earlier than reuniting with him by getting despatched from the 76ers to the Bucks on the Feb. 8 commerce deadline, stated Rivers “saved” Redick’s profession.
Regardless of the gradual begin to Rivers’ tenure in Milwaukee, there’s nonetheless time for him and the Bucks to show issues round. They’re third within the Japanese Convention, however there shall be a ton of strain for him and this roster to make a deep run within the playoffs. After making three main strikes in buying and selling for Lillard, firing Mike Budenholzer to rent Griffin, and now pivoting to Rivers midseason, all eyes are on Milwaukee to see if this difficult scenario will work.
