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Milwaukee Bucks fire Adrian Griffin, hire Doc Rivers as head coach

The Milwaukee Bucks, sitting at 30-13 and in second place in the Eastern Conference, fired head coach Adrian Griffin just over halfway into his first season with the franchise.

Griffin was hired to replace Mike Budenholzer, who was fired because of a first-round exit just two seasons after he led the Bucks to the franchise's first NBA Championship since 1971.

This season, the Bucks have averaged the second-most points per game in the league with 124.6 while allowing the fifth-most points with 120.5.

While Milwaukee plays with a fast pace that's conducive to scoring - and allowing - lots of points, the team has struggled defensively as it ranks last in turnovers caused per game.

Griffin sparked headlines when he reportedly got into a heated argument with former Portland Trail Blazers head coach and then-Bucks assistant coach Terry Stotts, who was brought in after coaching then-new Bucks guard Damian Lillard for many years in Portland. Stotts quickly stepped down from his role just a few games into the season.

Despite the Bucks holding a near-70 percent winning percentage, the team has suffered a few big losses. Most recently, they lost by 40 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have also lost by 16 to the Utah Jazz, by 15 to the Orlando Magic, by 19 to the Toronto Raptors, and by 17 to the Atlanta Hawks.

Before firing Griffin, the Bucks had +400 odds to win the NBA Championship, which were the second-shortest behind the Boston Celtics.

Doc Rivers, who last coached the Philadelphia 76ers, is reportedly a candidate to replace Griffin. On January 24, it was reported that he is finalizing a deal to become the Bucks' new head coach.

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