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675 sats \ 25 comments \ @grayruby 24 Jan Stacker_Sports

Apparently a 30-13 record is simply not good enough for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks fired their first year head coach, Adrian Griffin yesterday after just 43 games. Fairly successful games at that. This has to be one of the quickest firings of a coach whose team is having a successful season. The last time something similar occurred in the NBA was when David Blatt was fired by the Cavs with a 30-11 record. Tension with Lebron led to that one so one would have to imagine there was some tension with Griffin and Giannis or Dame.

Maybe my fellow stackers can help me out but I can't recall and can't seem to find similar oustings in other sports. Certainly there have been coaches fired after successful seasons but in mid season? Anyways, if anyone can think of one let me know.

It's rivals week in the NBA. So, there are some good games this week but some of these rivalry matchups don't make sense to me. For instance, The Mavs vs The Hawks, The Blazers vs The Spurs, and The 76ers vs Nuggets. I am going to need someone to explain those three to me. I can get the Heat vs Celtics or the Heat vs Knicks, which seem like a stretch, but as big market teams that are usually competitive and play in the same conference, have had playoff battles recently, I can get there. The other three I mentioned though, I have no clue.

That being said, the only true rivalry that matters this week though is my rivalry with @tnuts420. Jared Goff 3-7 (lost 5 straight) career record vs the 49ers. Yikes.

Sats for all, GR

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77 sats \ 18 replies \ @tnuts420 24 Jan

the last time the lions won a playoff game on the road, it was against the 49ers. just saying

48 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 24 Jan

I actually didn't know that. Mind blown.

Unless that means they are due for a road loss against the 49ers.

50 sats \ 16 replies \ @Undisciplined 24 Jan

Sure, but that was either 30+ or 60+ years ago. Just saying

48 sats \ 15 replies \ @grayruby OP 24 Jan

Looks like they beat the 49ers in 57 and lost to 49ers in 83. So maybe they are due for a win.

100 sats \ 14 replies \ @Undisciplined 24 Jan

I knew it was either '57 or '91 because those are their most recent two playoff wins. Yikes.

They're on an amazing cycle of 32 years w/out a playoff win, followed by one year with a playoff win.

Good luck Lions! It might be awhile before you get back here.

406 sats \ 13 replies \ @grayruby OP 24 Jan

I think they will make the playoffs again next year. The Packers are improving and the Vikings should be better if they re-sign Cousins and he is healthy but the NFC is not very good so they should be in the playoff mix again.

100 sats \ 12 replies \ @Undisciplined 24 Jan

They may well be back in the playoffs, but the pattern is about playoff wins. I'm sure that '57 team thought they'd win another playoff game at some point.

27 sats \ 11 replies \ @grayruby OP 24 Jan

What did you think of the Bucks move?

100 sats \ 10 replies \ @Undisciplined 24 Jan

I think you're right about Giannis not getting along with the coach. Nothing else would make any sense. Doc will probably use his stars more intelligently, which should make them a bit more dominant.

I am now hoping to see either the Heat, Celtics, or 76ers comeback from a 1-3 playoff hole against Milwaukee.

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100 sats \ 1 reply \ @gnilma 25 Jan

If you've watched the Bucks play, you will realize that their defense sucks. They went from near the top of the league to almost the bottom of the league, and it can't be all due to losing Holiday. Griffin had been tinkering with their defense and it's really not working. As the Bucks have championship aspirations, and we all know defense wins championships, the way things were with Griffin was probably not going to help win them a championship.

Also, have you seen the multiple times Giannis got pissed off at Griffin for subbing him off, expresses his frustration, then Griffin immediately puts him back into the game? Crumbling and backing off to your star player will not gain you points. As a coach, if you have a legit reason to sub the star player off, explain the reason to him and stand firm on your position. If you have a point and your reason is legit, I'm sure the star player will understand, as he is a professional as well. Backing off like that will just make players and coaching staff feel that you don't know what you're doing and not give you respect. But then again, I guess if you actually don't know what the hell you're doing to begin with, getting fired early in the season is probably a blessing in disguise.

What boggles my mind is the hiring of Doc Rivers. The last time he had success in winning a championship was back in 2008 with the Celtics. His recent track record isn't anywhere close to being good. He also holds the record for most playoff series lost as a head coach when leading 3-1. Is he really going to help the Bucks win a championship? I'm not going to say impossible, but I also have my doubts. Let's see how this plays out.

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 25 Jan

Good analysis of the situation. I think they just wanted to go with someone with a lot of experience by hiring Doc Rivers. Let's see how it plays out.

121 sats \ 3 replies \ @Undisciplined 24 Jan

Sixers-Nuggets must be about Jokic and Embiid being rivals.

Similarly, Mavs vs Hawks is about Trey vs Luka, because they were traded for each other.

Blazers and Spurs, though...battle for the first pick?

Mentioning the Heat twice made me think of Groundskeeper Willie:

406 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby OP 24 Jan

Live look at NBA trying to come up with rivalries to draw attention to pre-trade deadline, pre-allstar, mid-season games when everyone is focused on NFL playoffs.

121 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined 24 Jan

I'm sure the league would prefer if the Lakers or Warriors were good (or even just fun to watch) and if the best player weren't a big doughy white guy playing in Denver.

48 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 24 Jan

Haha he is a bit doughy.