After the Milwaukee Bucks fell 123-115 to the Indiana Pacers in Game 2, head coach Doc Rivers discussed the team’s challenges and areas for improvement as they head into a critical Game 3.
The Pacers’ dominant start and efficient shooting handed the Bucks their second consecutive loss, leaving them in a 2-0 hole in the first-round playoff series.
Rivers acknowledged the slow starts that have plagued his team, with the Pacers opening the game with a 31-16 run. “Yeah, we’ve gotten off to two poor starts, and we have to make an adjustment there for sure,” Rivers said.
The Bucks have struggled to regain momentum after those early deficits, and Rivers noted that turnovers have been a significant issue. “They outscored us by 10 off turnovers, and we lost by eight. A lot of them were unforced,” he added.
Despite the loss, Rivers saw some positives, particularly in the team’s shooting. “We shot almost 51%. We should’ve shot the ball better and moved it better, but I like where we’re tracking,” Rivers said.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had an impressive 34-point, 18-rebound performance, but even his dominance couldn’t overcome the Bucks’ mistakes on both ends of the floor.
Rivers also addressed the team’s defensive struggles, especially with the starting unit. “Defensively, we’re getting beat off the dribble, and it’s everyone,” he explained. “That group also had four turnovers to start the game. We forced a lot of stuff.”
The Bucks’ inability to contain Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was another key issue, with Rivers noting that adjustments in defense, including switches, weren’t enough to slow Haliburton down.
When asked about the pressure of being down 2-0 in the series, Rivers remained optimistic. “I look at it as a long series. We haven’t played a home game yet. It’s like being 2-8 and someone saying no one makes the playoffs at 2-8. It’s the same thing—we go home, take care of business, and then we can talk,” he said.
The Bucks will return home for Game 3, where they will need to make adjustments on both offense and defense to avoid falling into an even deeper hole.
“We’ll see. We have 48 hours. I’m not going to say what we’re doing right now because I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out,” Rivers said.
