The Milwaukee Bucks have been on a roll lately, as they now have a 12-11 record following a 2-8 start to the season. According to Bobby Portis, head coach Doc Rivers isn’t getting enough praise for keeping the team together and turning their fortunes around.

Dec 8, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts to a call made by referee Nick Buchert (3) during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
“Obviously, I think Doc gets a lot of slander, but for me personally and for our team, he’s been great,” Portis said about Rivers during his latest appearance on FanDuel’s Run It Back podcast. “He’s been building us, drilling things every day.”

“Early in the season, we didn’t really have a lot of camaraderie and chemistry–obviously, we added new pieces. We hadn’t played with Giannis in a while. He got hurt against the Celtics late last season, sat out the playoffs, and now we’re trying to get re-familiarized with the team. I like our vibe. Our vibe never was off. The vibes were always there,” he added.

Dec 3, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers yells instructions to his team from in front of their bench during their game against the Detroit Pistons in the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks are fresh from a 118-113 victory against the Brooklyn Nets last Sunday as five players scored in double digits, including Bobby Portis, who had 23 points while making history.

Feb 12, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers talks to forward Bobby Portis (9) after a technical foul in the fourth quarter during game against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Bucks turn their full focus on the NBA Cup

Despite their early rollercoaster ride, Milwaukee can get some silverware this season in the form of the NBA Cup since they’re into the knockout stage after going undefeated in the group stage (4-0).

The Milwaukee Bucks will fancy their chances of beating the Orlando Magic in the quarterfinals tomorrow since the latter will miss Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, who are out due to a torn oblique.

Sep 30, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Khris Middleton (22) gets ready for a photo shoot during Media Day at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Khris Middleton has already made his season debut, giving Milwaukee a huge morale boost. The three-time NBA All-Star is averaging 11.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per contest while coming off the bench in his last two appearances.