3 Reasons not to panic about the Milwaukee Bucks just yet post NBA All-Star break

All Milwaukee Bucks fans are in a similar spot during the All-Star break. The overall vibe around the fan base is negative.

The Bucks have played well below expectations at the All-Star break. Despite that, here are three reasons Bucks fans should not panic when play resumes.

Doc Rivers is still in an adjustment period with the Milwaukee Bucks

The biggest fear since Milwaukee decided to move forward with Doc Rivers as their new head coach was whether or not he was the right man for the job. The truth is, it's too early to tell.

While it has yet to translate in terms of wins and losses, there has been a significant improvement in the main category Rivers was brought in to fix. In February, the Bucks rank ninth in defensive rating. While it's only an eight-game sample size, perhaps the primary reason behind Adrian Griffin's departure was how poorly the team had played defense to that point. To see a considerable improvement on that end is an encouraging sign for the direction the team will be headed under Rivers.

The concern thus far with Rivers is that the team ranks 21st in offensive rating in February. Though the offense has dropped off under Rivers, Bucks fans shouldn't be too worried.

The Bucks have too much offensive firepower to struggle on offense forever. For most of Rivers' time in Milwaukee, Khris Middleton has been out with an ankle injury. When Middleton is added back into the mix along with the other great offensive talent in the team's starting lineup, the offense should trend upwards again soon.

Ultimately, when the Bucks decided to fire Griffin, they knew hiring Rivers wouldn't immediately fix everything. It'll take time for any coaching staff to mesh in a new place, especially one brought in midseason.