MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Bucks started a new era in the middle of the season, at the start of a five-game road trip. 

Monday night was Doc Rivers' first night leading the Bucks into battle. 

The former Marquette star has one major advantage over most coaches starting a new job -- these Bucks already have a loaded roster and they're near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

"This is not a team where you're trying to convince them that they can be something. In my last job, I thought the first year, you're almost trying to convince them how good they can be. This team already has five guys who have done it. Dame came in here because he wants to do it. So, it's not like you have to talk them into a goal," Rivers said. "They already know what the goal is."