Adrian

Griffin

Despite having a 30-13 record, second-best in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks have decided to fire Griffin. The team’s defensive approach has been a concern, with the Bucks ranked 21st in rating and 25th in points allowed, but the timing is a surprise. Assistant Joe Prunty will serve as the interim head coach, and reports have begun to surface that Doc Rivers has emerged as a candidate for the job.

Despite experienced options such as Monty Williams and Doc Rivers being available, Milwaukee has decided to go with Griffin as its next head coach. This will be Griffin’s second run with the Bucks franchise, as he began his coaching career as an assistant with the team during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. Since that two-year run, he’s been an assistant in Chicago, Orlando, Oklahoma City, and Toronto, spending the last five seasons with the latter. Before his coaching career, Griffin played nine seasons in the NBA for five teams.

Griffin, signed by the Rockets last month, will miss the start of camp, but he should be at full speed well before the beginning of the season.

Griffin will be examined today to see if he is ready to be cleared to fully join the team’s workouts.

''Adrian has up and down days,’' coach Jeff Van Gundy said. ''Some days his knee feels good; other days it doesn’t feel that good. When they’re back, I’m not sure.’' Griffin is eligible to come off the IL when he’s ready, as is Eric Piatkowski.

Griffin likely will not begin full participation in practice until Thursday at the earliest.

Griffin finished with 12 points and nine boards. In three previous games, the Kings had left Bell open and he didn’t knock down the shots.

Griffin resumed practicing with the Rockets last month, but the Rockets have decided to take a step back with the injury. “We’re going to back off from practicing and rehab him,” Rockets trainer Keith Jones said. “We put him on the floor and had him practicing. He could do everything, but he still had the limp and weakness. We’re going to back off for a couple weeks and really strengthen it without the pounding on the floor. I think that’s going to help him a lot.”

Griffin has coached for the Magic, Thunder and currently for the Raptors since retiring from the NBA as a player. Woj also reported earlier today that Memphis had been granted permission to interview Portland assistant Nate Tibbetts.

Griffin is day-to-day.