JB Bickerstaff Articles - Page 5

As the NBA offseason gets under way, just two teams around the league are left without a head coach. The Detroit Pistons, who went 14-68 and endured the longest losing streak in league history early in the 2023-24 season, fired their head coach Monty Williams earlier this week. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers made the decision […]

After the season the Cleveland Cavaliers went through finally ended, fallout was bound to follow. Anonymous sources, players, coaches, and personnel are happy to share what was wrong after everything happened. But, sometimes, players like Cavs veteran Marcus Morris Sr. are willing to be a bit more transparent and say what they feel needs to […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers had been steadily on the rise under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, but he was fired this week after five seasons of coaching the team. This past season was a good one for the Cavaliers as they finished in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and they won their first playoff series against […]

It’s no secret that Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has his hands plenty full already, facing what already feels like an insurmountable 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. However, being the man in charge of the Indiana Pacers isn’t the only coaching-related position that Rick Carlisle holds. As President […]

The Los Angeles Lakers coach search is underway as the team is finding a replacement for Darvin Ham, whom they fired after two seasons at the helm. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers move to fire J.B. Bickerstaff complicated matters in the search for the next Lakers coach, which already has JJ Redick as the frontrunner. The […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers have continuously built themselves into a contending threat in the Eastern Conference since LeBron James left in 2018, yet they have decided to take the franchise in a different direction. After posting 99 wins over the last two seasons, the fifth-most in the NBA during this span, the Cavs have relieved head […]

Sometimes, the NBA isn’t just a league where owners and executives ask, “What have you done for me lately?” when evaluating head coaches. Instead, despite when a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers is bounced in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics, everything that has happened during J.B. Bickerstaff’s nearly six years at the […]

Disappointment and anguish were understandably high after the Cleveland Cavaliers saw their playoff run and season end at the hands of the Boston Celtics. In the fallout that followed, many called for the Cavs to fire head coach J.B. Bickerstaff immediately. But now that Cleveland is several days removed from its season-ending loss, it’s clear […]

A Game 7 victory over the Orlando Magic pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers into the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2018. The main reason this series victory over the Cavs was significant is because it was the first time the organization had won a playoff series without LeBron James since 1993. The caveat […]

Heading into Game 2 of their first-round playoff matchup with the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff opened up on what adjustments his team needed to make after their series-opening win. Well, maybe adjust isn’t quite the right phrase for Bickerstaff, who admitted his team wasn’t perfect in Game 1 but wanted them […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers are opening the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Orlando Magic, and they have a lot on the line against their biggest doubters and critics. While the Cavs are now a year removed from last year’s postseason meltdown against the New York Knicks, it’s going to be a major focus heading into this […]

After a recent home win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen opened up that the Cavs were experiencing mild agita. That pressure wasn’t from anything anyone ate but from Cleveland starting to feel the pressure of a tightly contested Eastern Conference race. Allen said you could see and feel it when […]

Although the Memphis Grizzlies had 12 players down and were playing on the second night of a back-to-back, they gave the Cleveland Cavaliers everything they had and then some. At halftime, Memphis was up 51-48, and it felt like the Cavs were about to hit a new low point on an already tumultuous season. But, […]

Before the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, there were many questions regarding who was and wasn’t available for Cleveland. While Donovan Mitchell was able to suit up after missing six games due to a bothersome knee injury, the Cavs were without Dean Wade (knee), Caris LeVert (wrist) and Craig Porter Jr. […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been banged up all season long and after dealing with 14 games in 25 days, it’s starting to take its toll. The Cavs have continually asked players to step up and play beyond their limit and Cleveland is sorely missing the punch they get from Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus and Dean […]

Despite the many injuries the Cleveland Cavaliers have dealt with all season, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is too blessed to stress. That’s because, to Bickerstaff, they’re never out a game because of big man Jarrett Allen whenever the Cavs are down players in their rotation. “The greatest talent in the NBA is dependability,” Bickerstaff said […]

While the Cleveland Cavaliers initially said Donovan Mitchell would be out for at least the next three games, it could be longer than initially expected. Mitchell, who had been dealing with a nagging knee injury that was deemed a bone bruise by the Cavs, recently received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to help with the […]

In his nearly 20 years in the NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers J.B. Bickerstaff has spent 40% of that stretch as a head coach. Other than his time in Cleveland, Bickerstaff has experience as an assistant with the Charlotte Bobcats, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies. Overall, Bickerstaff has coached four full seasons as a head […]

No matter the opponent, the Cleveland Cavaliers embrace the next-man-up mentality, with every player on the roster—including sharpshooting guard Sam Merrill—ready to play in the event one of their teammates is sidelined. “We’re trying to find the balance of making sure everybody is kind of comfortable and getting the stretches that they need,” Cavs head […]

Although the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a nail-biting 121-119 win over the Dallas Mavericks, one that had plenty of theatrics at the end, this game proved to be just another day in the office for Donovan Mitchell. In 38 minutes of action, Mitchell had 31 points on 55.0% shooting to go with seven rebounds, six assists, […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers have come out flat in life after the All-Star break, dropping two in a row to the Orlando Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers. Granted, time away from the game will give any team rust, the Cavs included. But, in these two losses, Donovan Mitchell has been unavailable due to a non-COVID-related illness […]

Exiting the All-Star break, there are only 28 regular season games left until the Cleveland Cavaliers face the very best the Eastern Conference has to offer in the playoffs. It all begins with the Cavs hosting the Orlando Magic on Thursday. And although Cleveland was the hottest team in basketball entering All-Star weekend, it might […]

In his nine games back in action after jaw surgery, things haven’t been the easiest for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland. In 26.9 minutes per contest, Garland only averages 12.7 points on 47.3% shooting along with 6.0 assists. While his assist numbers are only a hair below his career average of 6.6 dimes per game, […]

When discussing all the awards during the NBA season, MVP and Rookie of the Year always steal the spotlight. However, players can only be as good as the leadership they have guiding them, which is why the Coach of the Year award is the most underrated accolade. So far this season, there are several coaches […]

Maybe the Chicago Bulls were feeling themselves on Wednesday night. Maybe defense was considered optional. Maybe the idea of the looming All-Star break was weighing on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Whatever it was, the Cavs didn’t just squeak out a 108-105 win over the Bulls at home—they also got a math lesson from their play on […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers are on fire, having won 17 of their last 18 games since New Year’s Day. Despite the success they’ve seen over the last six weeks, Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff was reportedly on the hot seat earlier this season, according to NBA insider Brian Windhorst. Windhorst spoke about the Cavaliers’ coaching situation […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers have arguably been the best team in basketball since the start of 2024. Overall, the Cavs have only lost twice in 2024, in January to the Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks. Otherwise, Cleveland has won 17 games in 2024, including riding a nine-game winning streak after their latest victory, a 119-95 […]

With the 2024 NBA trade deadline looming, the Cleveland Cavaliers stand in an interesting position. Boasting an impressive 33-16 record this season, the Cavs exhibit promise. That said, strategic trades could be the catalyst for their ascent in the league’s hierarchy. As an NBA sportswriter, it’s essential to scrutinize the team’s performance and pinpoint potential […]

Soon enough, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be complete for the first time this season. Sure, Ty Jerome will be sidelined for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery on a nagging ankle injury. But, regarding their ten-man rotation, the Cavs will be set in stone once Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee) are free of […]

With the Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching situation in flux, it was nice for the Cleveland Cavaliers to prepare for Joe Prunty’s tactics instead of Doc Rivers’. Jokes aside, early into this game, the Cavs treated this like a baseball-style series where they faced the Bucks in Milwaukee for the second time in three days. Head coach […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, as they are in the middle of a six-game win streak, which is the longest active win streak in the league. In a stroke of continued good fortune, JB Bickerstaff’s latest comments on the returns of Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan […]

Even after Darius Garland and Evan Mobley were ruled out due to jaw and knee surgery, respectively, the Cleveland Cavaliers are still standing and proving that they’re one of the NBA’s elite squads, especially on defense. In wake of the injury news, the Cavs have posted an 11-3 record, winning six games in a row. […]

The Cleveland Browns saw their surprising season come to an end in the AFC World Card round against the Houston Texans. The Browns lost, 45-14, and the Cinderella story that was the return of Joe Flacco saw its final chapter. However, after all of it, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff made sure to shout […]

When news broke that Darius Garland and Evan Mobley would be sidelined until early 2024, the Cleveland Cavaliers seemed down and out. Well, now the Cavs are riding a three-game winning streak and an 8-3 record without their star duo, the Cavs still might be down, but they’re not out. Instead, Cleveland has been thriving […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers agreeing to buy out Ricky Rubio’s contract seemed like just a small formality to some. To others, it was a sad, sobering farewell to a player who played a key role in setting the Cavs in motion to where they are today—individually, personally and as an organization. “Ricky was one of my […]

As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work, and it’s emblematic of the Cleveland Cavaliers stealing a 109-95 win on the road against the Chicago Bulls. How Cleveland snuck into Chicago and won without Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Caris LeVert, Donovan Mitchell and Sam Merrill is impressive. But it’s the perfect example of how […]

Heading into their matchup with the Orlando Magic, there was legitimate concern about how the Cleveland Cavaliers would find an offensive rhythm. Before tipoff, the Magic had the league’s third-best defense, allowing only 109.3 points per 100 possession. While Orlando’s defense seemed impenetrable, it wasn’t invincible — the Magic struggle to contain opponents in transition, […]

Already a month into the 2023-24 NBA season and there are already awards to be handed out. For those who don’t know, the NBA names the top player in the Eastern and Western Conferences every week. Meanwhile, they also name the top player, rookie, and coach for the Eastern and Western Conferences toward the start […]

Heading into the final game of a five-game home stand against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Cleveland Cavaliers were flying high. They had two solid and decisive wins over the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks and were starting to become a legitimate Eastern Conference Contender. But, like Icarus, the Cavs flew too close to the […]