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

[shoes22]

Obviously still really early in the season, but JB should definitely be Coach of the Year favorite.

And it’s for a simple reason. When have we EVER had a coaching staff that actually successfully developed non-veteran players and made them better?

Think about the last 30-40 years of Cavs coaches. Player development was one of our weakest traits. Any young players that we had, they often found more success after going to other teams, or found success by LeBron making the game easy for them.

This is the first time I’ve seen a coaching staff actually improving guys’ individual games. It’s something I don’t believe we’ve seen before in Cleveland.

 

[Jordan]

Obviously still really early in the season, but JB should definitely be Coach of the Year favorite.

And it’s for a simple reason. When have we EVER had a coaching staff that actually successfully developed non-veteran players and made them better?

Think about the last 30-40 years of Cavs coaches. Player development was one of our weakest traits. Any young players that we had, they often found more success after going to other teams, or found success by LeBron making the game easy for them.

This is the first time I’ve seen a coaching staff actually improving guys’ individual games. It’s something I don’t believe we’ve seen before in Cleveland.

Right now, I think the only other guy in contention is Nate Borkgren. He’s doing a phenomenal job with the Pacers.

As the season goes on, I also could see someone like a Quinn Snyder getting it if Utah keeps pace with the LA teams; or, on that note, if either of the LA teams breakaway from the pack then their coach will be in contention.

 

[Nphan]

Only problem I have with him is he's not perfect.

 

[BigZ94]

As good as he’s been he got absolutely out coached and out classed by Stevens last night. Destroyed our defensive schemes and took advantage of our limited playbook...

Would really like to see some offensive sets, all we do it run basic pick and rolls.

not saying the loss was completely his fault since everybody played awful, but against these great defensive teams we need some plays to get easy buckets.

Every game is just a free for all and we don’t have the talent to win consistently like that.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

It’s strange that’s all they run! Is it that he feels we are not athletic enough to run sets! We moved the ball very well but still there aren’t a lot of hard cuts to the basket. Mainly spotting up for jump shots!

 

[FrontPageNews]

He really needs to put his foot down with these point guard wannabe bigs

 

[Nphan]

Can't blame him when our players are always hurt. We rotate injuries more than an NFL team. One game Garland hurt, one game Windler hurt, one game Nance hurt. Who's next? Just a matter of time.

 

[cabs]

Our defense is good but our offense is just whack, I wanna see improvement. Garland Windler combined 43 mins for 0 3pt attempts

 

[Cavatt]

Our defense is good but our offense is just whack, I wanna see improvement. Garland Windler combined 43 mins for 0 3pt attempts

This is partially on them. They both passed up 3's they should have taken. Garland deserves some criticism for not hoisting.

The offense is really simple because new guys and limited training camp. Not surprised there is some confusion right now. They are also still using sets that are big centric because we had no guards.

 

[Rich]

This is partially on them. They both passed up 3's they should have taken. Garland deserves some criticism for not hoisting.

The offense is really simple because new guys and limited training camp. Not surprised there is some confusion right now. They are also still using sets that are big centric because we had no guards.

Almost no one else on the team is afraid to shoot. From Javale McGee to Taurean Prince.

I don't blame Windler, he's barely played.

But no one can make Darius Garland shoot the ball unless Darius Garland is willing.

If he's not gonna be a sharpshooter, then he's not gonna be a good NBA player.

 

[Cavatt]

Almost no one else on the team is afraid to shoot. From Javale McGee to Taurean Prince.

I don't blame Windler, he's barely played.

But no one can make Darius Garland shoot the ball unless Darius Garland is willing.

If he's not gonna be a sharpshooter, then he's not gonna be a good NBA player.

His game is absolutely dependent on him being a credible pull up 3 pt shooter. He isn't good enough finishing or physical enough otherwise. Life would be better for him if he was just shooting when he was sorta open on the perimeter. They lay back off him.

 

[BigZ94]

I don’t think short training camps are an excuse for the lack of a playbook. These guys have been playing basketball their whole lives, practice together on a daily basis for the last 9 weeks, they should be able to run something better then this free for all...

And yes we have some new guys but none of them are in the starting 5, so no excuse that at least they can run something.

I love JBB for his ability to motivate guys and how he gets the team to play hard but at some point there needs to be some resemblance of a playbook, or prehaps he shouldn’t be our long term solution. Still far too many possessions ending in a Drummond of Javale post up.

 

[Cavatt]

I don’t think short training camps are an excuse for the lack of a playbook. These guys have been playing basketball their whole lives, practice together on a daily basis for the last 9 weeks, they should be able to run something better then this free for all...

And yes we have some new guys but none of them are in the starting 5, so no excuse that at least they can run something.

I love JBB for his ability to motivate guys and how he gets the team to play hard but at some point there needs to be some resemblance of a playbook, or prehaps he shouldn’t be our long term solution. Still far too many possessions ending in a Drummond of Javale post up.

Word is the guys are all on the page so well so fast because the playbook is very rudimentary. It sucks because it isn't very tricky. It's good because they are all on the same page even guys who just showed up. They also worked on a lot of give it to the big man because of the lack of guard health.

Pretty understandable given the circumstances.

I feel you for sure, it's just that they were dealt a difficult hand and JB made the most of it

 

[ansatsusha80]

 

[Cavatt]

He's really putting guys in an environment where they can succeed and get rewarded for their defense.

Very nice positive feedback loop.