Rivers gets earful from 76ers fans, but Bucks get last word - ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — Doc Rivers wasn't sure what kind of reception he would receive in his return to Philadelphia, eight months after the 76ers dismissed him as coach.

«Do they give coaches big receptions?» Rivers said before his new team, the Milwaukee Bucks, beat Philadelphia 119-98 on Sunday.

When a reporter told Rivers he was different, he acknowledged the validity of the statement but noted he still hadn't thought much about it. However, the crowd in Philadelphia came prepared, delivering a resounding chorus of boos when Rivers' name was announced before tipoff.

«I didn't even hear it, to be honest,» Rivers said with a smile after the game. «That means I was back at home.»

Despite the chilly reception, Rivers had nothing but positive takeaways from his tenure with the Sixers, which ended after three seasons. He went 154-82 as Philadelphia's coach, but lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals in all three seasons and was fired in May.

«I'm happy with it overall, I just wish we could've gone further,» Rivers said. «I wish we could have had a chance to have Joel [Embiid] healthy in the playoffs.

»But overall, Joel became an MVP, and we established this team as a championship contender. That wasn't said the year before. And under a lot of stuff. You think about it, we had the James Harden trade, the Ben [Simmons] stuff. Some was under my control, some was out of my control, but overall, for me, if you don't win a title, you're never exactly happy. That's why we all do this."

Once the ball tipped, the Bucks overwhelmed the Sixers, who were playing their 11th straight game without Embiid, who had a knee procedure earlier this month.

Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined to score or assist on 82 of