The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired blown out. J.B. Bickerstaff held on.
Cavaliers’s coach has the organisation’s backing — and his job seems to be secure for now — regardless of a swift first-round exit within the NBA playoffs.
Making its first postseason look since LeBron James left 5 years in the past, the Cavaliers was bounced in 5 video games by the New York Knicks.
Bickerstaff was criticised for technique, alongside along with his workforce seeming overwhelmed and pushed round by the Knicks. Cleveland’s early elimination, plus the workforce’s historical past of rash strikes, triggered conjecture a couple of teaching swap.
However, after giving a considerably tepid endorsement of Bickerstaff throughout an end-of-season news convention on Friday, President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman made it clear the Cavaliers is transferring ahead with its coach.
“End that speculation,” Altman stated in a textual content message to AP. “He’s our head coach and we have a lot of support and respect for the job he’s done.”
That’s to not say the stress received’t intensify for Bickerstaff, who will likely be anticipated to take the Cavs additional subsequent season.
Cleveland received 51 video games throughout the common season and was the league’s top-rated defensive workforce earlier than getting bullied by the Knicks, who superior to the second spherical for the primary time since 2013.
Altman stated Bickerstaff has been instrumental within the Cavs’ turnaround. Two years in the past, it received simply 22 video games.
“J.B. has been through this rebuild from the ground up and he’s done a phenomenal job instilling a culture here of accountability and hard work,” Altman stated. “You can’t fluke your way into 51 wins and you can’t fluke your way into the No. 1 defensive rating in the NBA. That’s coaching.
“I know we have great defensive personnel, but you have to have buy-in from that and that comes from the head coach. We’re extremely happy with J.B. and the job he’s done. I think he’s going to look back and reflect on what we could have done better, just like the players look back at what they could have done better.”
Bickerstaff is 122-125 with the Cavaliers. He was an assistant in 2019 earlier than taking on when John Beilein stepped down on the All-Star break. Cleveland received 22 video games in Bickerstaff’s first season, 44 video games and certified for the play-in event the following, and made an even bigger bounce this 12 months because the No. 4 playoff seed.
While the Cavaliers is dissatisfied in its postseason efficiency, Altman stated there received’t be any “sweeping changes” to the roster this offseason. He’s assured Bickerstaff will develop from the expertise.
“He’s hard on himself,” Altman stated. “I think he’s going to go back and watch a lot of this stuff, but I also know that the players love playing for him. He’s created an amazing atmosphere here and there’s excitement.”
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On Thursday, Bickerstaff and Altman held exit interviews with the Cavs gamers, who provided assist for the coach.
Veteran guard Ricky Rubio re-signed with the Cavs final summer season, partly as a result of tradition established by Bickerstaff.
“What he built here is something special,” stated Rubio. “He’s a great locker-room guy. The atmosphere that we come every day in practice, it’s smooth. It’s not tension wise and that helps to really be consistent and build something for long-term instead of just results for today.”
“We take things for granted, but having a coach who really listens to you, who is willing to really say, ‘This is my fault.’ Of course we want results and we will work hard for that, but it’s how we do it. And I think that’s the main focus with J.B.”
