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'Peak Doc Rivers;' NBA World Reacts to Milwaukee Bucks Complete Meltdown in Game 5

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Apr 29, 2025 11:22 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks led for most of the game and had a six-point lead at one point in overtime. Unfortunately, however, sloppy play plagued them late and the Indiana Pacers were able to take advantage. Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton drove down the lane for a layup with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime, giving the Pacers a 119-118 point lead. Since Bucks head coach Doc Rivers had burned both of his timeouts with under a minute remaining in the game, Milwaukee was unable to set anything up and lost a heartbreaking game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had his fourth career postseason triple-double, posting 30 points, 20 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and two blocks. Gary Trent Jr., who had nine points through the game’s first three quarters, had 12 points in the fourth and 12 more in overtime giving him a total of 33 for the game.

It was all for naught, though, as a Rivers coached team once again found a way to choke in the NBA Playoffs.

It Took Doc Rivers too Long to Make Adjustments for the Milwaukee Bucks

Throughout the series, it became painfully obvious to everyone watching that Kyle Kuzma, Taurean Prince, and Brook Lopez were simply not good enough to match up against Indiana’s fast and athletic lineup. However, Rivers had each of them as starting players in the first three games of the series.

He did not remove Prince from the starting lineup until Game Four, which the Bucks, lost, and did not bench Kuzma and Lopez until Game Five.

By then, it was too late.

Additionally, Milwaukee made boneheaded mistakes and turnovers throughout the series, and more significantly in the final minute of Game Five which saw them choke away a six-point lead.

The NBA World Wants to See Doc Rivers Fired as the Head Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks

After the stunning meltdown by the Bucks, fans and analysts from all over the NBA world took to social media to proclaim their displeasure with the job Rivers has done in Milwaukee:

That was peak Doc Rivers!!! WTF!!!!!

The Bucks were up 118-111 with 35 seconds in overtime and they LOST!

Giannis had 30-20-13 and they LOST!??

How does this happen! HOW?? #FearTheDeer

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) April 30, 2025

There has never been a dumber team in sports history than the Milwaukee Bucks coached by Doc Rivers

— Drive and Kick Fascists in the Throat (@socialistbucks) April 30, 2025

Embarrassing for the Bucks.

That should be Doc Rivers’ final game as an NBA head coach. What an awful series all around.

— Bucks Film Room (@BucksFilmRoom) April 30, 2025

Doc really buried Gary Trent Jr and AJ Green for months

— NoTechBen (@NoTechBen) April 30, 2025

It was clear that the Pacers had the better team overall, but it was also clear that Rivers was out of his league and completely outcoached by Indiana’s Rick Carlisle.

It will be interesting to see what Milwaukee decides to do coaching wise this offseason.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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