Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers can feel a little happier after his team won their first game of the playoffs.
A straightforward home victory for the Milwaukee Bucks saw the team narrow the Indiana Pacers‘ series lead to 2-1.
There is plenty of basketball left to be played in this battle of the East’s four and five seeds, with the Bucks having home advantage for Game 4.
The third game will be remembered for the brilliance of Gary Trent Jr, who equalled Ray Allen’s franchise record for three-pointers in a playoff game.
There was another player who caught the attention of head coach Doc Rivers, center Jericho Sims.
Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Doc Rivers was full of positivity about Jericho Sims after his performance for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3.
Sims played 15 minutes from the bench, grabbing eight rebounds in that time, while scoring four points.
Quoted post-game via Kris Pursiainen, Doc Rivers praised his contribution for the team.
“He’s been fantastic. He’s our Swiss Army knife. When we go to that switching scheme, he’s key to it.”
Rivers was taken with Sims’ defensive work, and revealed a bold promise he told him when the Bucks traded for him at the deadline with the New York Knicks.
“When he first came, he told me he could guard anybody. And he may be right, you know? Because he’s been showing that.”
In his minutes Sims helped to limit Pascal Siakam despite his impressive game, and more playing time could be coming his way.
The Indiana Pacers were a class apart in the opening two games, with major questions emerging over the Milwaukee Bucks, with some very poor individual performances.
The Pacers took a step back in Game 3, struggling without their home crowd, and their scoring was more limited in this one. Only Pascal Siakam, with 28, scored above 20.
This victory has provided the Bucks with a much-needed confidence boost. Defeat would have been a disaster for their playoff hopes.
To win the series the Bucks will have to win a game in Indiana, which won’t be easy based on the series so far, but the added confidence and growth of players like Sims will help them out.
Doc RiversEastern ConferenceJericho SimsMilwaukee BucksNBA Playoffs
