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

[Cavatt]

Could really have used Okoro out there. He's also the kind of defender that has always bugged Steph.

Lauri was on Haliburton. Yep, could have used Okoro. He's underrated even though we always struggle with him out

 

[Rich]

So what would you suggest the Cavaliers do about it?

I don't get this response on a message board.

We talk about players not performing or mistakes they make and that doesn't mean the Cavs are supposed to go out and trade said player right away.

So just because he was recently signed to an extension doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't talk about in-game mistakes he makes.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I don't get this response on a message board.

We talk about players not performing or mistakes they make and that doesn't mean the Cavs are supposed to go out and trade said player right away.

So just because he was recently signed to an extension doesn't mean we can't or shouldn't talk about in-game mistakes he makes.

You commented earlier that people seemingly didn't want to talk about his mistakes, said they "Just sorta handwave away the mistake(s) and basically say "well, it's Cleveland, this is the best we can do."

It doesn't seem like they're denying the particular mistakes in question, so I'm just wondering what else you expect people to say. JBB made a mistake. And.....?

 

[MD13]

Pretty sure Lamar isn't the only one on the team who thinks this, and this is undoubtedly the thing JB can really hang his hat on as a coach. The way he's empowered players in their roles to grow has been pretty remarkable.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Pretty sure Lamar isn't the only one on the team who thinks this, and this is undoubtedly the thing JB can really hang his hat on as a coach. The way he's empowered players in their roles to grow has been pretty remarkable.

Some players...

I don't think D-Wind feels the same lol. Maybe Wade too. Who knows. I don't give a fuck about Wade because he is what he is most likely. But Windler's potential on this team is so unrealized...it makes little sense.

I think at this point it looks like Windler is so far the dog house that he has no real shot at being something on this team. When you are against a really depleted Jazz team, and Cedi Osman is throwing bricks all over the floor and you still don't give Windler a shot while playing closer to a 7 man rotation than 8 then you know it's not meant to be.

 

[CleveRocks]

The Jazz game was one Hella fine defensive game, and though his offense was not up, he was part of that five minute stretch where the Jazz did not score in the third, while Lamar was playing like a man possessed.. I Don't think Windlers defense is there..yet...

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

The Jazz game was one Hella fine defensive game, and though his offense was not up, he was part of that five minute stretch where the Jazz did not score in the third, while Lamar was playing like a man possessed.. I Don't think Windlers defense is there..yet...

Do you have a stat that confirms it?

Windler has a 1.8 DBPM right now while playing mostly with 3rd stringers when the Cavs had already blown the game wide open...so defensive effort and skill of the entire unit is not up to par with the starting unit. Not to mention the fact that the Cavs are a terrible 4th quarter yeam and so far have given up quite a bit of their huge leads in the 4th.

I think his defense is underrated. He is a good rebounder and a smart defender overall. Quite frankly he has been given 0 chance to showcase his skills or gain confidence compared to some other players. That's a fact. Still, he has been a positive player. His performance seemingly has no correlation with increased playing time. That must be demotivating.

 

[CleveRocks]

Do you have a stat that confirms it?

Windler has a 1.8 DBPM right now.

Malik Newman of the Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA player stats

Malik Newman of the Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA player stats including plus/minus data

www.82games.com

Look at his opp PER at small forward and overall.. overall he has the team best except for Fall who had no minutes..

This year. Cedi has the same DBPM as Windler, but significantly more minutes. This is a drastic change from the four years previous..

 

[shoes22]

People can complain about specific in-game things, but there’s no question JBB has been great at developing players. Easily the best we’ve had in that regard since Fratello.

 

[Cavatt]

Malik Newman of the Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA player stats

Malik Newman of the Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA player stats including plus/minus data

www.82games.com

Look at his opp PER at small forward and overall.. overall he has the team best except for Fall who had no minutes..

This year. Cedi has the same DBPM as Windler, but significantly more minutes. This is a drastic change from the four years previous..

That's really the main thing is that Cedi is playing the role Windler was supposed to.

I liked them playing together though with Ricky.

I am not sure what they should do honestly. I don't want to send any of these guys out, but WIndler, Wade, Cedi and Lamar have all played well enough IMO to get minutes, but there aren't enough for all of them, and nobody has really separated themselves from the pack other than Lamar being the best defender and Cedi being the best shooter.

We don't have no wings, we have like 4 backup wings.

 

[CleveRocks]

That's really the main thing is that Cedi is playing the role Windler was supposed to.

I liked them playing together though with Ricky.

I am not sure what they should do honestly. I don't want to send any of these guys out, but WIndler, Wade, Cedi and Lamar have all played well enough IMO to get minutes, but there aren't enough for all of them, and nobody has really separated themselves from the pack other than Lamar being the best defender and Cedi being the best shooter.

We don't have no wings, we have like 4 backup wings.

This... I think Okoro can become a starting wing. If Lamar pulls it off, it would be Altman's best pick value ever..But there is no physical reason he couldn't pull it off..

Windler is another story. He has physical limitations, we have discussed ad nauseum.. When we first drafted him there was a discussion here around how injuries can lead to busted careers.. And here we are.. it's rare for a player who spends his rookie contract mostly injured to make it work.. Z is an exception..Exum might be a best case...

 

[cliffdawg]

I swear every time Windler get any extended time, the boy gets hurt….People keep saying JB doghouse, not sure why we keep saying that, JB is out there trying to win games, if everything was equal with this team, and Rubio and Okoro didn’t get hurt, not to mention Sexton…..Windler would be and the D league full time, at best he’s a 11/12 best man on a solid team, Knox when he was on the Knicks who I think is better then Windler barely got off the bench……

Fyi I do like the kid, and root for him every time he’s in the game, but I’m also trusting JB judgement……

 

[2 For The Brew]

Windler is not getting the minutes he deserves, but that’s because other players are unavailable and JBB has to play him.

When the bile reaches his mouth Coach knows it’s time to pull Windler.

Dude is regularly abused on the defensive end by mobile, physical wings. On offense he either parks himself in the corner or roams outside the three point line, catches a pass, and passes it right back like a little kid playing catch with his dad. He’s averaging 9.5 points per 36 minutes which is 2.0 points less than Okoro. He can knock down threes when nobody is within ten feet of him - unless he decides not to take the shot.

His last non-garbage time appearance was a gem: 1 foul and faked Rondo into a TO. He also directly caused two fouls by our bigs when his man went through him like shit through a goose. JBB could only take four minutes of this.

I’d say his lack of success is less about the coach and more about him not being an NBA player.

 

[All4One1ForAll]

Gonna give him some credit. I thought we had great off ball movement today. Lots of cutting and screening.

 

[JJ_PR]

I see a lot of people in this thread that are skeptical of the Bickerstaff signing. The thing that stands out is claims that we need to hire a coach to "take us to the next level" like Golden State did with Steve Kerr after Mark Jackson had built a system for that team. Jackson went through the good & bad with them, I'm curious as to how they would've performed if they kept him long term.

I want our coach to be the one that sticked with the team through the bad times. He knows the system & the players well. Sure, let's hire a coach after the foundation is set to "take the next step", while leaving the one that actually got us winning basketball to the dust.

I disagree with that sentiment. It would be unfair for Bickerstaff, because it wasn't his fault that the team was bad in prior years. I'm glad the organization is being loyal to him. He seems like a genuinely nice & smart guy. He's the type of coach I want on my team.