“They know how to lose in the 4th quarter!” Legendary Phil Jackson’s brutal quote on Doc Rivers 14 years ago goes viral after Bucks bottle 12-point lead

Doc Rivers is the 18th head coach in Milwaukee Bucks franchise history.

“They know how to lose in the 4th quarter!” Legendary Phil Jackson’s brutal quote on Doc Rivers 14 years ago goes viral after Bucks bottle 12-point lead

Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers and the Legendary Phil Jackson (via Open Source/X)

Doc Rivers and the Milwaukee Bucks faced criticism for faltering in the 4th quarter of their NBA game against the Utah Jazz. Many have criticized Coach Doc Rivers, claiming that he hasn’t effectively utilized his players in the crucial moments of the game.

During the 2000s, Doc Rivers found himself in a similar situation just like he did last night against the Utah Jazz, showcasing a consistent pattern in his coaching experiences.

As the coach of the Boston Celtics in the late 2000s Lakers-Celtics rivalry, Doc Rivers played a pivotal role. The two teams clashed in the NBA Finals twice, with the Celtics clinching victory in 2008 and the Lakers responding in 2010. These hard-fought series extended to six and seven games, respectively. Amidst the intense competition, Phil Jackson and Doc Rivers, both seasoned former NBA players, engaged in strategic mind games on and off the court.

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In the 2010 NBA Finals, the Celtics surrendered their 3-1 lead to the Lakers, who ultimately claimed the Championship. A resurfaced video from that period captures Phil Jackson revealing how the Celtics had a tendency to easily lose their lead, adding an intriguing perspective to the unfolding drama.

This team has lost more games in the fourth quarter than anybody in the NBA. They know how to lose in the fourth quarter.

Last night against the Utah Jazz, the Milwaukee Bucks led by 12 points (95-83) at the end of the third quarter but ended up losing the fourth quarter, 40-13, and losing the game 123-108.

Doc Rivers’s coaching record with the Milwaukee Bucks so far

In a swift move, the Milwaukee Bucks enlisted the services of seasoned NBA coach Doc Rivers, only three days after parting ways with first-year coach, Adrian Griffin. Sources within the league indicate that Rivers’ contract spans until the 2026-27 season, with an estimated value of around $40 million.

Doc Rivers
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers (Via: NBA)

Doc Rivers has a record of three losses and one win so far as the Milwaukee Bucks head coach. His only win came in the 129-117 away victory against the Dallas Mavericks.

Becoming the 18th head coach in franchise history, Doc Rivers brings an impressive NBA coaching legacy to the Milwaukee Bucks. With 24 seasons of head coaching experience, Rivers, an NBA champion coach, notched 1,097 wins – the ninth-most in NBA history.

His coaching journey spanned the Orlando Magic (1999-03), Boston Celtics (2004-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20), and Philadelphia 76ers (2020-23). Boasting a remarkable overall record of 1,097-763 (.590), Rivers led his teams to the playoffs in 19 of his 24 seasons, making two trips to the NBA Finals and securing an NBA Championship with the Celtics in 2008. His 111 playoff wins rank as the fourth-most in league history.

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