J.B. Bickerstaff cites lack of effort on defense for 5-game ski

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ own head coach J.B. Bickerstaff believes the team isn’t putting in enough effort on defense.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ streak of losses has hit five in a row, and while the season is very young, it’s evident that J.B. Bickerstaff is ready to start checking egos. After the skid hit five, Bickerstaff went on record and said that the Cavaliers were less junkyard dogs and more “fat cats”, whose britches got too big for their own good.

The Cavs’ defense has not been great since they started their trek out west, and there’s really no reason for it other than effort. Sure, Dean Wade and Jarrett Allen missed time, but the defensive issues really started in earnest before their injuries. While Allen and Wade are among the team’s best defensive players, it’s clear that they weren’t providing the impact needed to balance out the issues of other players.

While Bickerstaff didn’t say who specifically wasn’t putting in the effort, he made sure to state that the effort by the team was a huge issue, telling Cleveland.com;

"We got away from being who we are. If you want to win and win in this league at the level we hope to, you can’t do it if you don’t guard. Defense comes down to the effort you’re willing to put in. The second effort. The third effort. The fourth effort. Right now, we don’t have enough guys putting in that second, third and fourth effort."

Lineup changes could be coming to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the short-term

The Cleveland Cavaliers may soon be rolling out a different lineup sooner, rather than later. The Cavs don’t have a lot of great two-way players but have very good players who excel on one end of the court or another, and Bickerstaff seems to be content in trying them out in different roles if push comes to shove;

"We have a formula in place that allows us and will allow us to be successful. Holding each other to that is what we have to do. Right now, we are not. It’s my responsibility to search and find the guys that are most willing to play the way we want to play, that will help us be successful. That’s what we will do. Does this shake the way I feel about our team? No. I love all these dudes the same. But it’s our responsibility to do what’s best by the team and find the guys that are going to play the way we need to play"

This may mean that guys like Lamar Stevens and Isaac Okoro, who are top-tier defenders on the team, could push guys like Cedi Osman and Kevin Love down in minutes. It may also mean Dylan Windler, who hasn’t been healthy for some time, could be a much-needed asset. While he isn’t known for his consistent shooting touch, just yet, he has been a very viable defender.

If he can come in, stay healthy and shoot the ball well, he may have a nice impact on this team in a way none of the other healthy bench players can provide.