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

[JJ_PR]

I blame @JJ_PR for everything. The jinx of the century most likely.

Well, I think the potential is still there. It takes time to build a winner. I like the pieces on this roster. The good thing about this losing is that we're likely to get another top 5 pick, potentially the 1st overall pick if all goes well. This draft is deep.

 

[bigking777]

I agree with the running part for sure. Other than Love, the whole team can run and even he would be deadly spotting up at the 3 on the secondary break and his rebounding and outlet passing is likely still outstanding. It would play to just about everyone's strengths. I'm not talking about Harden era Houston where you just run and chuck, we don't have the shooters for that, but getting guys like Okoro and Nance out in the open floor opens up things for them that aren't there in the half court. I love the idea of Allen filling the lane for dunks and put backs, kick outs to Windler and Wade, and Sexton just beating people down the court. It probably even helps Cedi. I know you have to get stops and steals to run effectively, but I'd sure like to see us try more. What could it hurt?

The Cavaliers would average 32 turnovers per night.
But, at this point, why not try something else?

 

[2 For The Brew]

I agree that SexLand, Okoro, Nance and Allen won’t work because of a lack of offense, but Wade and Windler at forward are not the answer either - at least not yet. I think those two with SexLand would get killed on defense, and neither of them can create their own shot.

What we really need is a stretch 4 that can score inside and outside and also rebound. With Allen, Nance and Okoro such a player wouldn’t need to be a defensive stud. If we only had a guy like that on the roster ... who could actually stay on the court ...

 

[cavsball]

https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2021/03/cleveland-cavaliers-offensive-funk-continues-in-100-82-loss-to-atlanta-hawks.html,

Bickerstaff on Hawks loss:

“I thought they out-scrapped us in the fourth quarter for sure. More than that, we lost our rhythm clearly over the break. Some of the grit and some of the toughness we were playing with before the break, we need to rediscover here quickly because I thought there were so many moments we were outplayed and outworked.”

Since the beginning of the his coaching, he has been often using the words outwork, out-scrap, out-work when talking about the team. And it sometimes irritates me, to be honest.

I hope it is just his cliche answer template to get over the media sessions without much effort and thinking. But seeing that the team has nothing close to an offensive scheme or plan in games, I'm afraid he is maybe hoping to rely on scrappiness, grit etc because other than some motivational speeches, he maybe has not much to offer to the team about gameplanning, in-game rotations, tactics, developing players and utilizing players effectively.

 

[BigZ94]

https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2021/03/cleveland-cavaliers-offensive-funk-continues-in-100-82-loss-to-atlanta-hawks.html,

Bickerstaff on Hawks loss:

“I thought they out-scrapped us in the fourth quarter for sure. More than that, we lost our rhythm clearly over the break. Some of the grit and some of the toughness we were playing with before the break, we need to rediscover here quickly because I thought there were so many moments we were outplayed and outworked.”

Since the beginning of the his coaching, he has been often using the words outwork, out-scrap, out-work when talking about the team. And it sometimes irritates me, to be honest.

I hope it is just his cliche answer template to get over the media sessions without much effort and thinking. But seeing that the team has nothing close to an offensive scheme or plan in games, I'm afraid he is maybe hoping to rely on scrappiness, grit etc because other than some motivational speeches, he maybe has not much to offer to the team about gameplanning, in-game rotations, tactics, developing players and utilizing players effectively.

At least he’s not saying we have to be “aggressive”

 

["MVP"]

I agree that SexLand, Okoro, Nance and Allen won’t work because of a lack of offense, but Wade and Windler at forward are not the answer either - at least not yet. I think those two with SexLand would get killed on defense, and neither of them can create their own shot.

What we really need is a stretch 4 that can score inside and outside and also rebound. With Allen, Nance and Okoro such a player wouldn’t need to be a defensive stud. If we only had a guy like that on the roster ... who could actually stay on the court ...

You can't bank on lottery luck, but Evan Mobley is the kind of 2-way stud that would really solve a ton of problems for this team (and for any team, for that matter).

 

[foucault87]

I have been trying to maintain a measured take on everything in other threads, but one thing that is concerning to me is the offense. 29th in 3pt% and 30th in attempts? With this roster? I thought Garland's most notable skill at the draft was Dame like range. Sexton buried the best team in the East with off the dribble 3s in OT. Windler's main calling card was offball shooting. How in the hell is a team with this 30th in attempted 3s?? Its not like we are starting Ben Simmons, Elfrid Payton, and Rajon Rondo.

At some point, you can't blame the players and it has to be put on the coaches for not establishing a basic, modern offense. There is no excuse for not getting Sexland 14-16 3 attempts per game. Windler should be getting ~ 5. Even the bad/reluctant shooters like Nance and Okoro should be putting up 3+ per game. As much as I am tired of seeing Cedi out there, at least he attempts outside shots.

I really wish the Cavs would stop hiring retreads or garbage out of the box coaches. Since I have been a fan of this team, we've had literally two guys I had any confidence in (Blatt, Lue). Honestly, I am convinced Mr. Potato Head could run a better offense than this. Why are we so afraid of hiring an innovative young guy as a coach? Nurse is a wizard in Tor. Chris Finch had been on the radar of a ton of basketball nerds for the last few years and Minny just snapped him up. Even Malone out in Denver was a rising star in coaching circles for a long time. Why can't the Cavs try one of these guys out instead of old college coach trying to transition into the NBA (when has that ever worked, Billy Donovan?) or former head coach who sucked the last 3 times? If you want to go out of the box, I would've promoted Gottlieb. From everything we have heard of her, she is a super talented coach in terms of both Xs and Os and also being a good player manager. But no, we have the 1992 offense instead.

As much as I do like what Koby has done with the trades and am mostly on board with the draft picks...the coaching problem is a huge issue that we need to address.

 

[ryanf]

^ i really hope this year tagged by the team management as a year of experimentation. there were glimpses of good schemes and player rotation, but they are quick to move away from it once it's working. so it's not 100% JBB sucks, because the cavs are good when they play good basketball, but it seems there is an active sabotage of that by messing up with rotations, pace and plays being called. i really hope they are just testing what works and what doesn't, showcasing players for trades, while subtly tanking along the way.

 

["MVP"]

Just a thought... If the Cavs do part ways with JB this offseason, David Vanterpool could be an interesting replacement. Obviously, he doesn't have the head coaching track record of someone like Kenny Atkinson, but... (1) if the Sexland pairing can work, Vanterpool has been given credit for helping Dame & CJ figure things out in Portland, and (2) his former players and colleagues seem to really respect him.

 

[J_J]

My concern is that we run too many PnRs at top and not much ball movement. People are standing around too much and we are not really utilizing Sexton’s strength in quickness and speed.

Beginning of the season we continue to pass the ball and movement without the ball and now it just stops or too many people standing around.

We should run back cuts to the basket with Windler and Sexton. Have Okoro slash to the basket. Have off the ball screen curl for Windler 3. Have off the ball screen with Nance and Allen or Wade and Allen with Allen cutting to the basket.

Lack of creativity is a concern. Also need to get our guards in position to shoot open 3s.

 

[BigZ94]

My concern is that we run too many PnRs at top and not much ball movement. People are standing around too much and we are not really utilizing Sexton’s strength in quickness and speed.

Beginning of the season we continue to pass the ball and movement without the ball and now it just stops or too many people standing around.

We should run back cuts to the basket with Windler and Sexton. Have Okoro slash to the basket. Have off the ball screen curl for Windler 3. Have off the ball screen with Nance and Allen or Wade and Allen with Allen cutting to the basket.

Lack of creativity is a concern. Also need to get our guards in position to shoot open 3s.

Go talk to Memphis or even Rockets fans, they had the same complaints about JBB as we do. He just isn’t a good NBA coach

 

[kidduck]

From the PD:

“Some of these games are practice opportunities,” Bickerstaff admitted. “That’s the best way that we have to approach it. Our young guys need the reps. We have to do some learning during these games. We have to try things that we may not have had the opportunity to practice. But we’ve got to get better. In order for our young guys to grow and turn into the players that we need them to be, there’s certain areas where they have to improve. And without actual practice days, we got to put ourselves in those scenarios on game days. That’s frustrating for all of us, I think, but that’s where the reps are going to come for us.”

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

IE: We are tanking, and I won't get the blame because well, we are tanking. I still suck as a coach, but i'm safe for now. It's just practice for our guys, so...

 

[rastamon87]

From the PD:

“Some of these games are practice opportunities,” Bickerstaff admitted. “That’s the best way that we have to approach it. Our young guys need the reps. We have to do some learning during these games. We have to try things that we may not have had the opportunity to practice. But we’ve got to get better. In order for our young guys to grow and turn into the players that we need them to be, there’s certain areas where they have to improve. And without actual practice days, we got to put ourselves in those scenarios on game days. That’s frustrating for all of us, I think, but that’s where the reps are going to come for us.”

Then why isn't Windler getting in game practice then? I understand he isn't ligthing it up and inconsistent offensively... But so is Garland, he has been highly inefficient in all facets of the game... Atleast Windler contributes in other ways moving without the ball, rebounds and blocks (suprisingly)...

Was apprehensive of JBB at the beginning and thinking he is more a product of nepotism than actual coaching skills/experience.... Am afraid it is really turning into that....

 

[ansatsusha80]

My concern is that we run too many PnRs at top and not much ball movement. People are standing around too much and we are not really utilizing Sexton’s strength in quickness and speed.

Beginning of the season we continue to pass the ball and movement without the ball and now it just stops or too many people standing around.

We should run back cuts to the basket with Windler and Sexton. Have Okoro slash to the basket. Have off the ball screen curl for Windler 3. Have off the ball screen with Nance and Allen or Wade and Allen with Allen cutting to the basket.

Lack of creativity is a concern. Also need to get our guards in position to shoot open 3s.

I've been saying this for awhile. You have one of the fastest players in the league but you dont use it. Then,don't use Windler's and Okoro's strengths either. It makes no sense to me.

I wasn't on board of getting rid of JB and I stand by that but I wouldn't shed a tear if this organization decides to move in a different direction even though it will hurt the young guys growth.

While the defense is alot better compared to last season,the offense havent improve at all.

With,that said I would give JB til the end of next season to improve the offense but he needs to bring in someone to improve the offense because there's no creativity at all.