Doc Rivers Refutes Claim That Bucks Are Trying to Catch Up to Pacers

The Milwaukee Bucks have been eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, with the teams facing each other 20 times over that period. The Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals in those seasons, leading to a narrative that the Bucks need to catch up to their rivals.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers has strongly rejected this narrative, emphasizing that copying the Pacers' style is not beneficial for the team. He stated, "There’s copycats. Everybody spent years trying to be Golden State, and nobody was. We’re not going to be (the Pacers). We’re going to be us," highlighting the importance of the Bucks focusing on their own identity rather than imitating others, especially after the Pacers' unlikely run to the NBA Finals.

Rivers acknowledged that the Bucks need to play at a quicker pace than last season but stressed that any changes should align with their roster's strengths. He explained, "We’re going to play at our pace, but we’re going to do things quicker. I just think you’ve got to be the best version of yourself to win. I think teams make a mistake when they try to be someone else," reinforcing his belief in optimizing their own style rather than adopting another team's approach.

The Bucks are confident in their ability to improve while largely maintaining their existing style of play, with Rivers expressing assurance in their strategy and the team's potential to perform better in the upcoming season.