JJ Redick would not wish to hear any extra excuses from Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers. Whereas showing on ESPN’s First Take, Redick did not shrink back from harsh criticism of his former coach, who spoke throughout All-Star Weekend in regards to 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 mentioned that taking on 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 below Rivers for 4 years (2013-17) after they have been each with the Clippers.
“Doc, we get it. Taking up a group 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. However it’s all the time an excuse. It is all the time throwing your group below the bus.”
Redick additionally took challenge with Rivers’ feedback following Milwaukee’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies of their closing recreation earlier than the All-Star break. The Bucks misplaced 113-110 to a Grizzlies group 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 mentioned, “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 mentioned. “Memphis was taking part in G League guys and two-way guys.”
Redick ended his rant by calling out Rivers’ feedback after he mentioned the Clippers consulted him earlier than making the blockbuster commerce that landed them James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers.
“You then have a look at his quotes over the weekend; now he desires to take credit score for the James Harden commerce to the Clippers figuring out?” Redick mentioned. “He desires credit score for that? There’s by no means accountability with that man.”
Redick performed below Rivers for 4 years after they have been each with the Los Angeles Clippers, so there is a private historical past of realizing how he’s as a coach. And from the sounds of it, Redick clearly has sturdy opinions about how Rivers, as he views it, would not take accountability when his group would not reside as much as expectations.
Considered 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, mentioned Rivers “saved” Redick’s profession.
Redick responded to Beverley on social media, mentioning that when a sign-and-trade was executed to ship him from the Bucks to the Clippers in 2013, one thing that will’ve wanted his approval earlier than being achieved, he was fielding an analogous provide from one other group earlier than in the end deciding to affix L.A.
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 will probably 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 sophisticated state of affairs will work.
