Cavs: 3 takeaways from J.B. Bickerstaff recent conversations with media
By Dan Gilinsky
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff touched base in recent media availability, and a few takeaways jump out from that.
The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ 2019-20 season has concluded, as of reports last Thursday and the NBPA reportedly approving the league’s 22-team format for a season resumption on Friday.
Cleveland was playing better leading into the season’s novel coronavirus-induced hiatus, though, and it was nice to see seemingly re-energized after J.B. Bickerstaff took over the head coaching reigns post-All-Star break.
While the Cavs in 2019-20 had a record of just 19-46, which was second-worst in the NBA, in that stretch with Bickerstaff at the helm, they were a more respectable 5-6. The Cavs were sixth in assist rate in that span, per NBA.com too.
It was tough for the Wine and Gold that with them gaining momentum heading toward the rest of the season then set to have 17 more games, that the squad’s season came to what would be an abrupt end due to COVID-19.
From a Cavs’ fan’s perspective at this point, I’d hope, though, that them and other teams not invited to the season’s resumption in Orlando can get in some sort of game action/joint practices before next season.
The 2020-21 campaign is currently slated to begin in December, which would be a heck of a while between playing competitive games, with Cleveland’s last game on March 10, which was a close loss to the Chicago Bulls.
Considering that, for example, it’s understandable that the Cavs, among a number of other non-Orlando teams, are reportedly trying to push for the NBA to allow them to have a mini Summer League. That’s also supposedly with them looking to have joint practices with other teams in that situation before next season, too.
That sort of thing was touched on by Bickerstaff recently on an appearance on The Woj Pod with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, in what was attended by Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego as well. That also leads me to my first takeaway from Bickerstaff’s recent conversations with the media, of which we’ll hit on in relation to Tuesday as well.
That, among a few other takeaways stand out to me when it comes to Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s recent media availability.
We’ll get into those now.