Coaching Casualties in the 2023 NBA Playoffs: Budenholzer, Williams, and Rivers

• The Milwaukee Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer after they were eliminated in the first round
• The Phoenix Suns fired Monty Williams after they were eliminated in the second round
• The Philadelphia 76ers fired Doc Rivers after they were eliminated in the Eastern semis

Twelve teams have already been eliminated in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

Out of those dozen teams, three have decided to part ways with their head coaches.

Sports Brief looks at the coaching casualties in this postseason.

Mike Budenholzer

The Bucks entered the playoffs with high expectations after finishing the regular season with the league’s best record.

Milwaukee’s title hopes took a huge hit, however, after Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a back injury in Game 1.

With the Greek Freak sidelined, the Bucks lost Games 1 and 3 to trail 2-1 in the series against the Miami Heat.

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The Bucks battled back in Game 4 after Antetokounmpo returned to the starting lineup. They built a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and looked to be on their way to tying the series at 2-2.

Jimmy Butler had other ideas, scoring a playoff career-high 56 points to help the Heat record a comeback win in Game 4 and nab a 3-1 series lead.

The same thing happened in Game 5, with Milwaukee building a huge lead in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks failed to hold on to that advantage, with Butler scoring an acrobatic layup in the dying seconds of regulation to force overtime.

The Heat outscored the Bucks 10-8 in the extra period to grab the win and eliminate Milwaukee in the first round.

Mike Budenholzer shouldered the blame for the Bucks’ early playoff exit. He was fired just two years removed from leading Milwaukee to an NBA title.

Milwaukee Bucks part ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer after early playoff exit

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The 53-year-old went 271-120 in five seasons with the Bucks. Milwaukee made the playoffs every year during Budenholzer’s reign, per Fox Sports.

Monty Williams

Budenholzer’s opposing coach in the 2021 NBA Finals also got fired this month after his team underachieved in this year’s playoffs.

Monty Williams got the sack after the Phoenix Suns lost in six games to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Injuries ravaged the Suns in that series, with Chris Paul missing Games 3 to 6 because of a groin problem. Deandre Ayton also was sidelined for Game 6 due to a rib contusion.

The Nuggets took full advantage, winning Games 5 and 6 to eliminate a Suns team that featured Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

Mat Ishbia, who assumed ownership of the Suns just three months ago, decided to fire Williams after Phoenix’s loss in Game 6.

The Suns suffered humiliating losses in their last two elimination games under Williams’ watch, and Ishbia felt it was time for Phoenix to move on and find a replacement.

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Williams’ dismissal still came as a shock to many as he is one of the best coaches in the league. He came within two wins of the title in 2021 and won Coach of the Year in 2022.

Doc Rivers

The Sixers decided to part ways with Rivers after falling short once again in their bid to win the championship.

They were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in each of the past three seasons under Rivers’ watch, per Yahoo! Sports.

They failed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals despite having reigning league MVP Joel Embiid in their lineup.

The Sixers blew a 3-2 series lead against the Celtics. It was a disappointing result for Rivers, who have now lost ten Game 7s in his career.

Heat rally past Celtics

Sports Brief recently reported on the Heat’s win over the Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Lakers rout Warriors in Game 3 to take 2-1 series lead

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Jimmy Butler dazzled on both ends of the floor, recording 35 points and six steals in Miami’s 123-116 win.

He scored 20 of his 35 points in the second half.