With their back against the wall, Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers could only look as they blew a seven-point lead in overtime against the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 on Tuesday.
The Bucks lost, 118-111, and packed their bags in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year.
Rivers quickly earned the ire of fans after the game. Many wanted him gone, citing his string of collapses in the playoffs in recent years, including during his stints with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers.
He was heavily criticized when the Bucks struggled early this season. Giannis Antetokounmpo, however, defended Rivers, saying it is up to the players to compete for the veteran coach.
The Bucks turned their campaign around—even winning the NBA Cup—and advanced to the playoffs as the fifth seed. But now, with another early exit, Antetokounmpo was asked about his relationship with Rivers.
"I love Doc," said the Bucks star in the postgame conference. "I think he's a great human being. I think he's a great dude.
"He knows how to uplift your spirits and always knows the right thing to say at the right moment."
Antetokounmpo added a tongue-in-cheek remark: "He's been in the NBA for 50 years. Is it 50? I don't know. Maybe. A lot of years."
Last season, the Bucks made the surprising decision to fire coach Adrian Griffin after just 43 games in his maiden stint and replaced him with Rivers. The 63-year-old Rivers led the Boston Celtics to the championship in 2008 but has since failed to duplicate the success.
But for Antetokounmpo, who had a triple-double of 30 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists, his admiration for Rivers extends beyond the hardwood.
"I love him not only as a coach but as a person," added the two-time MVP. "I think he's a great person. I love working with him."
Rivers is under a four-year deal worth $40 million, according to Spotrac.
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Last season, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham drastically climbed the ranks of the NBA hierarchy. Following his breakout campaign, one former All-Star and champion opened up on his desire to work with him. Between having a fully healthy offseason and the Pistons making upgrades to the roster, the stage was set for Cunningham to take a step forward in his development. He made the most of this opportunity, posting career highs across the board. In 70 appearances in the regular season, he averaged 26.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 9.1 APG. This production not only got the Pistons to the postseason but also landed Cunningham All-Star and All-NBA honors. While appearing on FanDuel TV's Run It Back show Monday, Rajon Rondo praised Cunningham's abilities on the basketball court. With his experience, he also feels he could help take the Pistons' star to the next level. "If I can get my hands on a Cade Cunningham," Rondo said. "I think he could become that one type of point guard. It's only a couple of tweaks, and then it's also about personnel." Last season, Cunningham was one of the top facilitators in the league. If he spent some time with Rondo, there is no telling what it could do for his development in this area. At his peak, Rondo was a multi-time All-Star with the Boston Celtics and led the NBA in assists on three separate occasions. Though Cunningham already has a high IQ when it comes to playmaking, picking Rondo's brain could yield positive results for the Pistons guard. Seeing that he is more than willing to get in the gym with him, only time will tell if the two end up linking up this summer. Latest on Detroit Pistons’ Free Agency Key Details of Duncan Robinson’s Pistons Contract Detroit Pistons Make Official Trade Announcement Caris LeVert Officially Joining Detroit Pistons Pistons’ Paul Reed Decision Receives Questionable Grade
While the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders have garnered a lot of attention lately, there is one NFC team that has quietly been flying under the radar. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost a one-score game to the Lions in the divisional round in 2023 and followed that up with another one-score loss to QB Jayden Daniels and the Commanders last season, proving how close they have been to the ultimate prize in the two seasons with Baker Mayfield under center. In an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up" Tuesday morning, analyst and former player Ryan Clark offered high praise for Mayfield and what the Buccaneers are capable of. "Baker Mayfield is a top-10 quarterback in this league," Clark said. "Baker Mayfield is a football player. And when I say that, I know people at home are gonna be like, 'Duh, he gets paid to play football.' No, not all quarterbacks are seen as football players. Not all quarterbacks are embraced in the locker room as one of us." Clark sees the Buccaneers as a team the rest of the league should be paying attention to because of who they have returning and the close calls in the playoffs the last two seasons. "This is a team that's been on the cusp the last two years," Clark said. "Now you think about some of the pieces they've added, the confidence in their quarterback and the way that he plays, and Todd Bowles with another year to understand winning at a high level at the head coach position. This is a team you better be extremely scared of because they're stacked and they're confident." Mayfield has been sensational during his time with the Buccaneers. Although he did throw 16 interceptions, Mayfield accounted for the third-most passing yards (4,500) in the league last season and has thrown the most TD passes (69) in the last two seasons, per StatMuse. To add even more incentive for Mayfield, the team restructured his contract, which is set to expire after the 2026 season, to include $30M in guaranteed salary for that season. The Buccaneers return a lot of production on both sides of the ball, in addition to bringing in first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka, who topped 1,000 receiving yards twice at Ohio State and accounted for 26 total TDs. While Tampa Bay allowed the 17th-most points per game (22.7) last season, it returns the majority of its defensive production. On top of that, the offseason acquisition of veteran LB and two-time Pro-Bowler Haason Reddick, who agreed to terms on a one-year deal, should be a welcomed addition for a franchise that had some question marks on defense last season. The Buccaneers are projected to have the sixth-easiest schedule in the NFL this season and have the best chance to win the NFC South for the fifth consecutive season, according to ESPN Analytics. If Mayfield can cut back on his turnovers and the defense can create more pressure on opposing QBs, the Buccaneers could be a threat in the NFC once again as they look to put their recent nail-biting losses in the postseason behind them.
The Boston Bruins have been under pressure to retool after a disappointing season, and now a potential blockbuster move could shake the entire NHL. A major trade proposal has surfaced that could send a star goaltender to the Edmonton Oilers, a move that would give them the elite presence they've lacked in net while forcing Boston closer to a rebuild. The deal being floated by multiple outlets would send Edmonton's current starter, Stuart Skinner, along with Matthew Savoie, Beau Akey, and a 2028 first-round pick to Boston, while the Oilers land a goaltender capable of changing their Cup window overnight. Edmonton's push for a franchise goalie could reshape the Western Conference and challenge the Dallas Stars' path to the Cup If this trade goes through, the Oilers would instantly address one of their biggest weaknesses, setting up a showdown with teams like the Dallas Stars, who already see Edmonton as one of their toughest rivals. Boston, on the other hand, would fully commit to a rebuild, pairing Joonas Korpisalo with Skinner in what could be one of the NHL's weakest tandems, likely boosting their draft lottery odds in one of the most hyped draft classes in recent memory (NHL.com). An insider noted, "They weren't the only ones who had inquired about Swayman, but yes, I was told they poked around." That comment shows just how wide the interest is for this level of goalie talent (Heavy.com). I think this kind of trade would completely shift the balance of power in the West, making Edmonton even more dangerous for teams like Dallas, who could end up facing a vastly upgraded Oilers team in the playoffs. If Boston truly embraces a rebuild, moving their top goaltender could be the first domino in a massive roster overhaul, something that could shake the market for weeks.
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