The Milwaukee Bucks‘ 2024-25 NBA season has gone as poorly as it possibly could have. Through two weeks, they are 1-6 and stand alone as the worst team in the Eastern Conference. Their only victory happened on opening night when they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers without Paul George and Joel Embiid. Furthermore, they are currently dealing with injuries to Khris Middleton, who likely will not return for a while, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Regardless of their slow start, head coach Doc Rivers is not worried. It is just the opposite, in fact.
According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (subscription required), Rivers seemingly guaranteed a playoff appearance for the Bucks this season, saying he is “not worried about that.” Additionally, the former point guard spoke about the team’s “very positive mindset” amidst their slow start.
“We will make the playoffs,” Rivers said after Monday’s loss to Cleveland, per Nehm. “I’m not worried about that.”
“The team’s very positive. I think they’re upbeat,” Rivers said. “No one wants to lose. We have some tough games coming up, but one win at a time. We win three or four in a row and then the numbers say if you’re 5-6 after that, you have an 80 percent chance to make the playoffs, you know? So that’s where numbers are so silly sometimes, especially early in the year. And we don’t pay much attention to them.”
Doc Rivers Reveals Bold Guarantee for Milwaukee Bucks
Analyzing Doc Rivers’ Comments
The one thing that cannot be denied is that the season is still young. There is plenty of time for teams at the bottom of the standings to climb back up and vice versa. This especially applies to the Bucks, who are much more talented than their record shows. It is important to note that the team has missed Middleton for the entire season so far. When he returns to the court, it will elevate the Bucks on both sides of the ball. However, until that happens, it is on Rivers and the Bucks to stay afloat, and they are struggling to do that.
Through seven games, the Bucks have the sixth-worst net rating (-6.5) in the NBA and are playing poorly on offense and defense. While it is safe to assume the team will find their groove soon, there is reason for concern. The Bucks, who had championship aspirations last season, were underwhelming. They finished 49-33, a nine-game dropoff from the previous season, and lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. There is still plenty of talent on the roster. However, what seems like a slump could prove to be a reality for the Bucks.
The Last Word
The Bucks have the luxury of playing in the less-than-competitive Eastern Conference. A playoff appearance is not entirely out of the picture. However, the Bucks have a lot of catching up to do. Milwaukee plays the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics in two of their next three games. However, seven of their next 10 opponents missed the playoffs last season. It will prove difficult, but it is too early to count the Bucks out just yet.
