The last paragraph in article pretty much sums it all up.
The Bucks' poor record and slide down the standings since Rivers took over is disappointing, but at least somewhat explainable. His press tour, on the other hand, is not. In recent days he has called out his players and questioned his front office and ownership. He was brought in to steady the ship, but has done exactly the opposite.
This edition of 'Postcards From Milwaukee' looks at the Bucks' midseason coaching change and its mixed results
www.cbssports.com
In my personal opinion, I don't think Rivers is totally wrong. I don't think the front office has done their job right for quite some time, and I'm afraid some of the players have been doing what they wanted out there, in total disregard for team defense, and unity on the floor. Sometimes it's to the point of selfish.
That said, I don't believe Rivers was the right guy to turn things around. Nick Nurse could have, because he'd take control, and wouldn't give a damned who you were, you'd be playing the game on both ends of the floor. He's never been "star struck," into believing players need to be "creative" on their own, regardless of what's best for the team.
Bad part is, Giannis is one of those players who feels entitled, and so does Lillard. Because of it, everyone else, including Middleton, are just there to carry their luggage for them. That simply is not the way a winner in the NBA plays, or is coached.
But, I've been saying all this since long before the view was even considered as a possibility. I could see the problems the first time Lillard was on the floor with the rest of the team, and how Middleton and others were shuffled over to the luggage rack to do the heavy carrying while the two "stars" played their individual games.
But, it began long before that, with Horst tweaking a roster that was ready to win it all more than the one time they did, not digging into the real cause of the problem at that point. Coaching.
What's sad is that Giannis has seemed to forget he didn't have a pot to piss in, and Herb Kohl pretty much adopted him, and his family, pulling every string possible to bring the family to the US for Giannis. Apparently that allegiance to the Bucks, and Kohl died the day Herb died. He's now the entitled child of the Bucks who has to get his way, or he's going to demand he's sent somewhere where he can be pampered.
I remember when Giannis would be interviewed, and he was modest, and talked about how the team was coalescing as a family. Now, his comments don't even come close to relating to that modesty. But, like so many super stars, and we've seen enough of them in our group, with Favre, Rodgers, and Giannis, this is often the path that starts like his has now.
