DENVER — Before Doc Rivers took the sideline for his first game as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night in Denver, he was already emphasizing the need for patience.
For the first time in his 25-year coaching career, Rivers is taking over a team midseason, a challenge he said “he wouldn’t wish on anybody.” Meanwhile, the Bucks are adjusting to an entirely new voice in the huddle after first-year coach Adrian Griffin was replaced by Rivers.
“It’s going to take a minute,” Rivers said prior to Monday’s 113-107 loss to the Nuggets. “What I’m trying to do really slowly is put in some of my stuff and simplify some of their stuff.
“One thing you don’t want to do and we’re so fearful of doing it is paralyzing their brain and now they’re thinking it. So it’s just going to take a while.”
Denver spoiled Rivers’ Bucks coaching debut with a loss, dropping him to 1-4 in his career in his first game with a new team, but the Bucks were still encouraged by one of their most inspired defensive efforts of the season.