After seeing his crew get crushed early within the first half, Doc Rivers admitted he was already fascinated with elevating the white flag on the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday evening in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The NBA Cup hangover hasn’t gone away but, and the Bucks seem like affected by an absence of relaxation from their latest match success.
“Actually, we thought of not having all (starters) play within the second half,” Rivers mentioned after the 124-101 loss.
“It was an enormous turnaround. We knew it.”
The Bucks rapidly returned to motion after defeating the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Tuesday to win the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup. The crew was depressing from begin to end in opposition to the top-seeded Cavaliers in Cleveland.
Already with out Damian Lillard as a result of a calf pressure, Milwaukee did not have a solution to Cleveland’s balanced assault. Giannis Antetokounmpo alone led the Bucks with 33 factors, however the Cavaliers fell brief contemplating that they had six gamers rating in double figures, led by Donovan Michel’s 27 factors.
The Cavaliers got here out rapidly within the first half and beat the Bucks with red-hot taking pictures. They constructed an enormous lead at halftime, 69-51, and by no means seemed again, clinching a straightforward win.
“I did not know that, however I may see it,” Rivers mentioned if he anticipated the Bucks to play badly after their busy schedule after profitable the NBA Cup. “I used to be hopeful that possibly we may shake it off. However there’s lots of it. Such as you mentioned, the match was performed with lots of emotion. We obtained on the aircraft, 24 Fly to Milwaukee inside hours.
“It is only a huge deal.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo himself mentioned it was “bizarre” to take a while off after which return to work so rapidly after profitable the NBA Cup, however the Bucks celebrity made no excuses.
“Often you get a trophy and that is it. You may have issues like an offseason, time to relaxation, time to spend with your loved ones. It is bizarre to hoist a trophy and are available again later. For instance, within the NBA “You possibly can’t actually rejoice since you’re taking part in the very best crew and you’ve got two days,” he mentioned.
“It is definitely unusual, however that is the fact. The season continues. We’ve got over 50 video games left in entrance of us. We simply need to proceed to enhance and keep wholesome.”
The Bucks proceed their grueling post-NBA Cup schedule and can now return dwelling to face the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
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