The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a historic 127-82 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at Barclays Center, marking one of the franchise’s most lopsided defeats.
Doc Rivers took responsibility for the team’s performance. “I thought that was terrible. It was terrible for me because I obviously didn’t have them ready… we still had a lot of searching to do,” he said.
Rivers criticized the Bucks’ lack of intensity and execution. “No one wanted to play hard… we had exactly the number of assists we had turnovers,” he said, highlighting the team’s struggles with ball movement and missed opportunities.
The coach recognized Brooklyn’s effort. “Give Brooklyn credit. They played hard. They moved the ball. They played well,” Rivers said, noting that the Nets took advantage of Milwaukee’s early mistakes and scored on almost every possession to build a commanding lead.
Rivers singled out the guards for their actions, specifically Kevin Porter Jr., but emphasized it was a collective issue. “I couldn’t worry as much about his shots. The ball movement tonight … our guards just wouldn’t pass the ball,” he said, referring to multiple possessions where open teammates were ignored.
Defensive mistakes also frustrated Rivers. “It was really … a few missed switches, some communication … the film will be long and hard to watch,” he said, reflecting on the Bucks’ inability to control Brooklyn’s scoring.
The coach emphasized the need for responsibility and competition. “We thought it was going to be a show. The problem is the other team thought it was a competition and we didn’t,” said Rivers, who called for self-reflection within the squad.
Despite the blow, Rivers emphasized the unity of coaching and the importance of regrouping. “All our coaches… we just didn’t play with the right spirit tonight,” he said, emphasizing that correcting the team’s mentality starts with leadership.
Brooklyn dominated from the start, shooting 53 percent overall and 44 percent from three, with Egor Demin leading the way with 17 points. Milwaukee never led after the opening minutes and struggled offensively, finishing with just 39 percent from the field and 23 percent from three-point range.
The Bucks look to bounce back when they host Toronto on Thursday, while Brooklyn looks to continue their recent home game against Miami.
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