Doc Rivers remains optimistic about the Bucks' chances, despite a 3-1 deficit against the Pacers: "One game at a time"

Doc Rivers remains optimistic, believing the Milwaukee Bucks can overcome the odds and advance past the first round against the Indiana Pacers. Doc kept it simple when it came to how they'll approach the challenge the rest of the way, despite the Pacers' commanding 3-1 series lead after losing Game 4, 126-113.

"It's just one game at a time," the Bucks coach said in his postgame presser. "Here's the deal, we have two games left at home, they have one game left at home. That's how you can look at it. So, the first thing is we have to win the first game at home, and then we can talk about the rest after that."

The Pacers overwhelmed the Bucks

As Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard sat out because of injuries while Bobby Portis took a premature exit due to an ejection, the Bucks made a gallant effort to steal Game 4. However, they couldn't keep up with the Pacers' offense.

The trio of Brook Lopez (27), Khris Middleton (25), and Malik Beasley (20) did the heavy lifting for Milwaukee scoring-wise. Still, the rest of the group was underwhelming as Indiana flashed a strong collective effort.

Indy had six players scoring in double-digit, led by Myles Turner's 29 points and nine rebounds. Hitting a franchise's playoff-best 22 three-pointers, the Pacers used their marksmanship to put themselves on the cusp of advancing to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

Could Doc be on the right side of a 3-1 comeback?

History has been generally harsh for teams that fall into the 3-1 hole. Only 13 squads managed to overcome this tough playoff series deficit out of 281 instances in the league's record books. The last time an upper-seeded group came out victorious in this first-round scenario was in 2006, when Steve Nash and his Phoenix Suns beat the Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers.

As it is, Doc often saw himself being the league's laughing stock for this reason. The Bucks head coach blew a 3-1 series lead three times. (2003 Orlando Magic, 2015 & 2020 L.A. Clippers).

Who knows what may unfold this time for Doc, as he is yet to coach a team that was able to overcome a 3-1 series deficit. Still, Giannis and Dame's unavailability is a massive roadblock for him to finally be on the right side of such a comeback.

Related: "I would be whatever is more conservative than conservative" - Rachel Nichols warns against rushing Giannis Antetokounmpo back from injury