Bucks Collapse: Out of the Playoffs After 10 Years, Rivers Explains
The Bucks miss the postseason for the first time in a decade: the loss to San Antonio caps a season defined by injuries, roster limitations, and internal tension
The 127-95 loss to the San Antonio Spurs marks the final blow to the Milwaukee Bucks’ season. Their 44th defeat in the regular season officially eliminates them from the postseason – something that hadn’t happened in ten years.
An ending that perfectly reflects a disappointing year for the Bucks, one that started poorly and only got worse, also marked by ongoing frustration from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The roster also played a major role: a team lacking depth, with several players who would struggle to find minutes on current playoff-caliber franchises.
After the game, head coach Doc Rivers tried to explain the reasons behind such a difficult campaign:
It’s been disappointing, obviously. Since I’ve been here, I’ve never had a stretch with the team fully healthy, especially when it comes to key players. One time it was Giannis, another time it was Lillard. You hope to push through anyway, but we weren’t able to
Doc Rivers
While injuries had a major impact on the Bucks, the overall level of the roster also proved to be a clear limitation:
This year we had only one so-called star. Every other team has two or three. We needed to be healthy. We were short-handed – we knew that before the season even started – and things didn’t go our way. All the talk and the controversy probably didn’t help either
Doc Rivers
Now, it’s time for Milwaukee to look ahead and close out the season as respectably as possible. The offseason looms large: the Milwaukee Bucks could be facing a future without their leader Giannis Antetokounmpo.