Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers and General Manager Jon Horst started the Bucks’ Media Day today. Rivers was asked about the biggest challenges that his team will be facing going into next season. In his assessment, staying healthy till the playoffs would be a big challenge.
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But team chemistry will also be a crucial factor to get over the hump. Rivers thinks that that’s something the entire team will have to work on.
He also stated that being dominant throughout the entire season will only be possible if the team stays together. So, health and the team’s tandem will be the Bucks’ biggest challenges this season.
Rivers, on his biggest challenge as coach: Health is not my challenge, but it's our challenge as a team…We have to get to the playoffs healthy.
To me, it's more about our connection as a team. I believe with what we have returning and what we're bringing in, we have enough.
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) September 30, 2024
Rivers said, “Health is not my challenge, but it’s our challenge as a team…We have to get to the playoffs healthy…To me, it’s more about our connection as a team. I believe with what we have returning and what we’re bringing in, we have enough.”
The 62-year-old added that he is aiming for better continuity. As for the team’s structure and availability of talent, he believes that the Bucks have enough to make this a remarkable season.
Rivers joined the Bucks earlier this year and so far, he is satisfied with the progress that they’ve made. The veteran HC also compared his team to the Celtics team that he coached.
Rivers: This is the closest thing to that Boston team that I've had.
Mentioned the vets at the top of the roster and the young players at the bottom of the roster.
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) September 30, 2024
He said, “This is the closest thing to that Boston team that I’ve had.” He was the coach of the Boston franchise from 2004-2013.
Under him, the Celtics won a championship in 2008. Rivers mentioned the right balance of veterans and new players in his current team and stated that there are similarities between them and the Celtics.
The Milwaukee Bucks roster
The Bucks will be going into the new season with the likes of Damian Lillard, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Apart from the players who have been there for a while, the Bucks have brought in a lot of talent. The acquisitions suggest that the front office was busy during the offseason.
They have added Taurean Prince, who was previously with the Lakers, Gary Trent Jr. from the Raptors, Stanley Umude from the Pistons, and Anžejs Pasečņiks, who last played for the Wizards in 2021. They have also added previously undrafted players like James Akinjo and Liam Robbins.
In this year’s draft, the Bucks picked Tyler Smith in the second round and AJ Johnson in the first round as their 23rd pick. So, the team looks very balanced on paper. However, the majority of these players will need time to settle in, which might give them trouble early on in the season.
