Memphis Grizzlies: 3 Reasons Cleveland Should Steer Clear of J.B. Bickerstaff in NBA Rumors
Learning Curve
J.B. Bickerstaff had endured one stint as an NBA head coach — albeit via interim capacity — prior to taking over for the Memphis Grizzlies amid David Fizdale‘s midseason departure in 2017. Bickerstaff led the Houston Rockets for 71 games in the 2015-16 NBA season, finishing the schedule with a 52.1% winning percentage.
In Memphis, Bickerstaff was the Associate Head Coach (essentially the Vice President within the coaching staff) during the short Fizdale era. Both David and J.B. were seen as equal from an experience standpoint. Yet, once the Grizzlies were done with David Fizdale, they remained hungry for fresh blood on the coaching circuit.
Related Story. NBA Rumors: J.B. Bickerstaff is a Candidate for Cavs Opening. light
Perhaps the Memphis Grizzlies have been looking for the next Brad Stevens, if you will, on the free-agent coaching market. Who can blame them? Much like the Boston Celtics’ instance, snagging a quality coach regardless of experience can potentially propel a roster into the postseason. That is where the Grizz want to be, so they took a chance on Bickerstaff, yet their luck of this decade has run out.
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, they are in a similar position to the Memphis Grizzlies. Their franchise star is no longer in town. LeBron James is to Cleveland as Marc Gasol is to Memphis. Now, as a rebuild begins, it is time to invest in the team’s rookies and other youngsters, all while a few solid veterans demand playing time, too. Grizz Nation feels the Cavs’ pain.
As previously mentioned, J.B. Bickerstaff was in over his head this season. It took him a long time to get comfortable in his full-time role, and he did not settle on any particular lineup or rotation, even by the 82nd game of the regular season. Some guys are best utilized as associate head coaches or assistant coaches, and that is looking to be the case with J.B.
If anything, Bickerstaff needs to use his recent firing as feedback. From here, he should find another associate head coaching gig, learn and develop more, and then pursue the head coach title on down the road. In jumping immediately into the head coaching pool under two weeks since being canned, J.B. would likely enter the same situation as he did one year ago. In the recent NBA rumors, he is not setting himself up for success in this manner. Cleveland needs a more established figure as their next head coach (as do the Memphis Grizzlies).