John-Blair Bickerstaff: Currently The 6th Longest Tenured Head Coach

[Jscc]

Multiple Cavs players openly question team's defensive scheme from meltdown vs. Clippers

Multiple Cleveland Cavaliers players questioned the team’s defensive strategy following a crushing loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, according to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.

cavaliersnation.com

This is not good for JBB. His two young stars publicly questioning tactics

This stuff is why I am completely okay with firing JBB and bringing everyone back with another coach. The players aren't stupid and this team is not as bad as it has appeared. It's difficult to play pro basketball and coach yourself at the same time. Moreso when you are being played into the ground on 40 min b2b's. There is one major problem and hopefully it is obvious to everyone at this point. JBB should've been gone after that Knicks series.

 

[Popper]

What's funny about Bickerstaff, is his switch heavy defensive scheme is probably what will bring him down in the end, not his complete lack of imagination on offense. The pot meets the kettle.

 

[guitarguy]

There actually is a chance the Cavs miss the Playoffs. We have 3 games left. If we lose 2 and win 1, and the 76ers + Pacers win out, we're in the play in. And I think every playoff and play in team is licking their chops to play us.

I think you're very wrong with your entire rationale. You're so hyper fixated on the conference finals point that you don't realize the bar is set intentionally high because they want to get rid of him. Koby keeping JBB is a bigger mark on him than getting rid of him. If you've seen your team crash and burn after February 3 years in a row and you don't fire your coach... People are going to think you don't deserve your job. The Bucks fired a better coach. The Raptors fired a coach who had just won coach of the year. Warriors. Ultimately all the Cavs have in the last three seasons is a play-in loss to a worse team, a playoff loss to a worse team but being dominated, and now a crash and burn going into the playoffs. Congrats, you won over 50 games once since LeBron left... MUCH better coaches have been let go than JBB because the franchises realized they're not as good as the record would indicate. The optics are the Cavs suck and are losing to bottom of the barrel teams which they should be beating without one or two stars.

Koby should make a trade, but he also needs to get rid of JBB. This team is on a treadmill of mediocrity.

This is crazy and sad really that we could end up in the Play-in talk about a deflating way to go out this year.

Cavs have : Grizzlies, Pacers, and Hornets - You'd think we could easily win 2 of those...(3 of 7 last 10)

Pacers have: Raptors, Cavs, Hawks - Raptors are probably throwing in towel, but Cavs and Hawks mostly have something to play for. (Pacers have won 7-3 last 10, currently won 2 in a row)

76ers... Pistons, Magic, Nets - 2 of those teams could give two craps to win. 5 game win streak... likely winning out. (won 6 -4, last 10, but Embiid has them dominating).

This doesn't look promising, if Cavs don't beat Pacers... who knows what will happen. Feels like the Pacers and 6ers are starting to play their best basketball of the year... we look like a dumpster fire.

 

[Lee]

This stuff is why I am completely okay with firing JBB and bringing everyone back with another coach. The players aren't stupid and this team is not as bad as it has appeared. It's difficult to play pro basketball and coach yourself at the same time. Moreso when you are being played into the ground on 40 min b2b's. There is one major problem and hopefully it is obvious to everyone at this point. JBB should've been gone after that Knicks series.

I was thinking the same thing. If we can get Mitchell to extend, why shake things up until we know what a different coach can do?

 

[Kouki]

Because time is a precious resource and you don't get to indefinitely try things.

Not even saying we def need to shake up the roster. If it comes out that for whatever reason, JBB is thee problem, and everyone on the team is aligned to that and wants to run things back with a different coach, and DM especially is willing to run it back and genuinely wants to stay here long term, that's one thing.

But fact is we have some big redundancies in our "core four" players, and that is poor roster management when you have a salary cap especially when the core four doesn't include the prototypical wing that's damn near a necessity to truly contend. I don't see how we would ever get a legit high quality wing with size when we have substantial investment in the core four.

So running it back and failing pushes DM out the door eventually.

 

[Jscc]

Because time is a precious resource and you don't get to indefinitely try things.

Not even saying we def need to shake up the roster. If it comes out that for whatever reason, JBB is thee problem, and everyone on the team is aligned to that and wants to run things back with a different coach, and DM especially is willing to run it back and genuinely wants to stay here long term, that's one thing.

But fact is we have some big redundancies in our "core four" players, and that is poor roster management when you have a salary cap especially when the core four doesn't include the prototypical wing that's damn near a necessity to truly contend. I don't see how we would ever get a legit high quality wing with size when we have substantial investment in the core four.

So running it back and failing pushes DM out the door eventually.

I just hope this FO isn't stupid and tries playing hardball with Don over JBB like "We are only giving JBB his pink slip after your signature is on the contract".

 

[Cavatt]

Because time is a precious resource and you don't get to indefinitely try things.

Not even saying we def need to shake up the roster. If it comes out that for whatever reason, JBB is thee problem, and everyone on the team is aligned to that and wants to run things back with a different coach, and DM especially is willing to run it back and genuinely wants to stay here long term, that's one thing.

But fact is we have some big redundancies in our "core four" players, and that is poor roster management when you have a salary cap especially when the core four doesn't include the prototypical wing that's damn near a necessity to truly contend. I don't see how we would ever get a legit high quality wing with size when we have substantial investment in the core four.

So running it back and failing pushes DM out the door eventually.

I get it, but it feels like this we learned absolutely nothing about this team this year. Darius played his worst season in a long time and Mobley did not level up the way we expected. There were other good signs of growth and Max fit really well. I don't think I was convinced of breaking up the bigs or the guards. 22 games many where one or another guys was still actually banged up. It was a perfect storm of noise to signal

I'd love to see this deep ass team with a coach who is more offensively minded. Maybe you can get a wing with Caris and the draft pick?

 

[J_J]

This stuff is why I am completely okay with firing JBB and bringing everyone back with another coach. The players aren't stupid and this team is not as bad as it has appeared. It's difficult to play pro basketball and coach yourself at the same time. Moreso when you are being played into the ground on 40 min b2b's. There is one major problem and hopefully it is obvious to everyone at this point. JBB should've been gone after that Knicks series.

One thing is that the players are too nice and are very good character guys. And especially young players with these type of character will continue to try hard.

The problem is that as you mentioned players start to realize things and question many weird things? Why didn’t we double team a player who continues to score on 1v1 when other opposing players haven’t beat you? Why as one of the best shooters/playmakers inbounding the ball when we only have a second to shoot? Why did my teammate get a JYD and not play the next game? Etc etc

 

[kookoo]

One thing is that the players are too nice and are very good character guys. And especially young players with these type of character will continue to try hard.

The problem is that as you mentioned players start to realize things and question many weird things? Why didn’t we double team a player who continues to score on 1v1 when other opposing players haven’t beat you? Why as one of the best shooters/playmakers inbounding the ball when we only have a second to shoot? Why did my teammate get a JYD and not play the next game? Etc etc

I mentioned this last year when CERTAIN members were saying no one says bad stuff about JBB... Yeah, because the team is filled with professionals who know they're not going to get playing time if they talk shit about their coach. It takes desperate times for this stuff to start coming out. 100% there were a lot of factors going against JBB, but ultimately those things are just used as excuses to keep a bang average coach employed. I apologize to the board for having standards...

 

[PIP]

This man here continues to amaze…

Memphis thought they were gonna just stroll on into Cleveland on the heels of an epic Women’s Final Four with their whack ass BBQ and stupid Elvis worshiping cult and let us know…..

Nah bitch! Coach was not going to let that happen…. Not on his watch….

He made sure we #LetEmKnow !!!

Machine Gun Kelly > Elvis

The exit is that way………. Losers!

 

[2 For The Brew]

This man here continues to amaze…

Memphis thought they were gonna just stroll on into Cleveland with their whack ass BBQ and stupid Elvis worshiping schtick and let us know…..

Yet coach was not going to let that happen on his watch….

He made sure we #LetEmKnow !!!

Machine Gun Kelly > Elvis

The exit is that way………. Losers!
View attachment 19683

This man might beat the Magic in the playoffs which LeBron couldn’t do. That would be legitimately humblin’

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

This man here continues to amaze…

Memphis thought they were gonna just stroll on into Cleveland on the heels of an epic Women’s Final Four with their whack ass BBQ and stupid Elvis worshiping cult and let us know…..

Nah bitch! Coach was not going to let that happen…. Not on his watch….

He made sure we #LetEmKnow !!!

Machine Gun Kelly > Elvis

The exit is that way………. Losers!
View attachment 19683

JBB was pointing to the rafters. Had to #letemknow who they’re dealing with. We’re only concerned with hangin’ banners ‘round these parts:

 

[Smooth]

Because time is a precious resource and you don't get to indefinitely try things.

Not even saying we def need to shake up the roster. If it comes out that for whatever reason, JBB is thee problem, and everyone on the team is aligned to that and wants to run things back with a different coach, and DM especially is willing to run it back and genuinely wants to stay here long term, that's one thing.

But fact is we have some big redundancies in our "core four" players, and that is poor roster management when you have a salary cap especially when the core four doesn't include the prototypical wing that's damn near a necessity to truly contend. I don't see how we would ever get a legit high quality wing with size when we have substantial investment in the core four.

So running it back and failing pushes DM out the door eventually.

You build off what’s available not what the ideal is..

People keep mentioning the Cavs need for a wing like the whole league doesn’t need/want one too.. Where’s this wing that Koby has missed out on that has set this team back and led to this imbalance?

Unless you're a big market and can attract them via FA (Kawhi, George, Durant, LeBron, Butler) or draft one, there's very infrequent opportunities to acquire the type of wing everyone is clamoring for..

 

[Kouki]

You build off what’s available not what the ideal is..

People keep mentioning the Cavs need for a wing like the whole league doesn’t need/want one too.. Where’s this wing that Koby has missed out on that has set this team back and led to this imbalance?

Unless you're a big market and can attract them via FA (Kawhi, George, Durant, LeBron, Butler) or draft one, there's very infrequent opportunities to acquire the type of wing everyone is clamoring for..

Oh I agree, and admittedly I look a bit hypocritical here because I have always tried to ground these discussions in reality - "Ok, you say we need a wing... name some names because they don't grow on trees"

Hypothetically the easiest way to get there for a small market team is getting them in the draft, or trading for one who is established but disgruntled and is maybe hesitant to come to dreary Cleveland but wants a shot at winning. Similar to how we acquired DM.

The point I am trying to make though is that it is poor asset management and roster building to have your best four players have such significant redundancies. I think most would agree with that. If Mobley takes a leap then that eliminates one redundancy.

 

[cavsfever]

This man here continues to amaze…

Memphis thought they were gonna just stroll on into Cleveland on the heels of an epic Women’s Final Four with their whack ass BBQ and stupid Elvis worshiping cult and let us know…..

Nah bitch! Coach was not going to let that happen…. Not on his watch….

He made sure we #LetEmKnow !!!

Machine Gun Kelly > Elvis

The exit is that way………. Losers!
View attachment 19683

JBB brought the team back from the twin psychological blows of a lucky last second shot in LA that allowed the Clippers to get a fluke win despite a strong Cavs team leading most of the game, and then a disappointing first half performance that left them trailing at halftime against Memphis at home. He rallied the Cavs to absolutely CRUSH the Grizzlies — a team that has made the playoffs in the tough Western Conference the last three years in a row — in a devastating second half display of both offensive and defensive prowess that led to a blowout comeback victory!

What I wouldn’t have given to hear his halftime speech! This is a man who just through the power of his words can get players to try harder and play with intensity! I could use someone like that in my life to bring out my own “junkyard dog” and lead me to personal victory. Don’t understand the pervasive doubts about him around here, but @PIP supporting him is a breath of fresh air.