Not since the days of having LeBron James have the Cleveland Cavaliers been considered a threat in the Eastern Conference. A lot of that has to do with great pieces put together over time to make the Cavs legit contenders, and plenty of that also has to do with the great coaching of Cavs head coach, J.B. Bickerstaff. He has the Cavaliers heading in the right direction and any call for Bickerstaff to be replaced if the Cavs don’t go far should be nixed, immediately.
While some Cavs fans may want Bickerstaff to be replaced in the upcoming offseason with a different head coach, that wouldn’t be a smart move.
The Cavaliers have improved each year under the coaching of Bickerstaff. Going from one of the worst teams in the East, to being title contenders is a testament to how good of a coach Bickerstaff is. Since taking over the coaching duties in a full-time capacity in the 2020-2021 season, Bickerstaff has shown why he is the right choice for head coach of the Cavs.
The Wine and Gold went from having a record of 22-50 in the first full year of Bickerstaff’s tenure to a record of 34-22, currently. It’s a testament to Bickerstaff that the team is out there hustling and playing on the defensive end game-in and game-out.
Bickerstaff has yet to get the opportunity to guide the Cavaliers to the playoffs, with the only time coming close being last season, losing two play-in games to the Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks. With virtually no veteran playoff experience on the court, that is surely to change with Donovan Mitchell being added to the mix. Adding the fact that they’ve had a taste of the playoff atmosphere with the play-in last year, this will only help the Cavs and make them better prepared. Allowing Bickerstaff to make a playoff run with this current Cavaliers roster would be beneficial to everyone involved, too.
Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have all flourished under Bickerstaff as well, and should only get better going forward. Garland and Allen have both had All-Star Game appearances, with it only being a matter of time before Mobley garners some appearances, himself. Donovan Mitchell, already a star from his time in Utah, has shined on the Cavs this season, even being voted in to the upcoming All-Star Game in Utah and he’ll be a starter for the first time.
Bickerstaff undoubtedly has his team playing hard and is having them thrive in their roles. With a team full of young talent, Bickerstaff has them playing well and contending. A team rich with talent in Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Caris LeVert, etc., all seems to have bought in to what Bickerstaff is about.
In a loaded Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers are right in the thick of things. Why would anyone tinker with that? As some may say, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Bickerstaff is the right man for the job and should remain the Cavs head coach for the foreseeable future.