Within the 2023-24 season, Cleveland completed 4th within the East with a 48-34 document. They’d a matchup within the first spherical vs. a younger Orlando Magic squad. It took the Cavaliers seven video games however beat the Magic to advance to the Convention semi-finals. This was Cleveland’s first collection win in 31 years that LeBron James was not part of.
Subsequent up for the Cavs was the #1 seed within the East, the Boston Celtics. It was going to take an amazing quantity of effort for Cleveland to win that collection. Particularly with the staff lacking Donovan Mitchell in Video games 4 and 5. Cleveland was in a position to steal Recreation 2 in Boston, however they misplaced 4 of the primary 5 to lose the collection. As we speak, the staff parted methods with head coach J.B. Bickerstaff after 5 seasons. Who will exchange him in Cleveland?
J.B. Bickerstaff has been fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers
“J. B. Bickerstaff is out as head coach in Cleveland, sources inform me that Kenny Atkinson and James Borrego are among the many main candidates to interchange Bickerstaff…There may be loads of optimism across the Cavs that they’re going to get a dedication from Donovan Mitchell on a… pic.twitter.com/9NkzsXTIkm
— Run It Again (@RunItBackFDTV) Might 23, 2024
This isn’t the primary time that J.B. Bickerstaff has been fired as a head coach. Earlier than his time with the Cavaliers, he spent one season as coach of the Rockets and two with the Grizzlies. He was fired from each jobs. Bickerstaff now provides Cleveland to the checklist. The 45-year-old bought his begin with the Cavs in 2019-20 as an assistant head coach. Close to the top of that season, the staff parted methods with head coach John Beilein after simply 54 video games. J.B. Bickerstaff was then employed because the interim head coach.
That offseason, the Cavs promoted Bickerstaff to full-time head coach. Over his subsequent 4 seasons, he led Cleveland to 2 play appearances and one playoff collection win. Regardless of a successful document in every of his final three seasons, the staff felt he was not the precise match transferring ahead. In 5 seasons, Bickerstaff went 170-159 as head coach of the Cavs. He was 6-11 within the postseason. Based on NBA insider Shams Charania, Kenny Atkinson and James Barego are among the many prime candidates to be the Cavs’ new head coach.
ESPN Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers dismissed coach JB Bickerstaff on Thursday. Bickerstaff led Cavs to convention semifinals and received 99 regular-season video games in previous two years, however change comes with hope of advancing deeper. pic.twitter.com/fxl7FJPdQ9
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) Might 23, 2024
Firing J.B., Bickerstaff might need been a long-term transfer for the Cavs. It was well-known across the league that Cleveland’s famous person guard Donovan Mitchell grew weary of Bickerstaff. Mitchell felt he was not getting probably the most of out his staff. With out Mitchell, the Cavs aren’t actual contenders within the East. Moreover, the staff desires to resign Mitchell this offseason. There’s an opportunity for Mitchell to try this now that Bickerstaff is gone.