The Milwaukee Bucks had their time, but in the last two postseasons, it’s the Indiana Pacers who seem to hold the edge in the rivalry. The Bucks have been shown the door in the first round by the Pacers. This has led to the formation of a narrative that the Bucks are trying to catch up with Tyrese Haliburton & Co.
That is not at all the case, according to Bucks head coach Doc Rivers. Despite the Pacers’ impressive back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances, including a run to the NBA Finals last season, Rivers asserts the Bucks are on their own path forward while slamming the narrative.
“There’s a difference,” Rivers said Tuesday via The Athletic. “There’s copycats. Everybody spent years trying to be Golden State, and nobody was. We’re not going to be (the Pacers). We’re going to be us.”
Rivers added that playing fast on the court is an area they are trying to improve upon, but that doesn’t mean the team is looking to match someone in that regard. To copy someone blindly isn’t the approach the head coach is taking.
“We’re going to play at our pace, but we’re going to do things quicker. We are changing because I think that’s how we have to play,” Rivers said. “But if we were a slow, big team, I wouldn’t try to play like that. I just think you’ve got to be the best version of yourself to win. I think teams make a mistake when they try to be someone else.”
Doc Rivers confirms big Giannia Antetokounmpo development
There is a lot that has happened in the offseason, including the Bucks waiving Damian Lillard, that ties every move by Giannis Antetokounmpo to possibly wanting out of the franchise. Concerns arose when the Greek Freak skipped the Bucks’ Media Day and the start of training camp. It was later revealed to be due to a COVID-19 infection.
A new development has come by with Doc Rivers confirming that the forward has joined the squad in Miami, where the training camp is being held.
“He’ll be flying in either tonight or in the morning,” Rivers said via Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
However, it remains unclear whether Antetokounmpo will feature in the Bucks’ preseason against the Miami Heat on Sunday.
