J.B. Bickerstaff should be back for the Cleveland Cavaliers but with changes

The Cleveland Cavaliers are bringing back J.B. Bickerstaff but changes need to be made.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the New York Knicks last week and were eliminated from post-season competition, many thought the Cavs may move on from J.B. Bickerstaff. Cavaliers’ president of basketball operations, Koby Altman was a bit vague in his support for the Cavs head coach. Yet, Altman came out and cleared the air, saying in a text message to the Associated Press (via ESPN);

"End that speculation. He’s our head coach and we have a lot of support and respect for the job he’s done."

The endorsement is a well-earned one, as Bickerstaff led the team to 51 wins, the No. 1 ranked defense in the league, and saw Evan Mobley take the next steps in his development; at least during the regular season.

That said, while retaining Bickerstaff is the right call, the Cavaliers need to address the putrid offense, which plagued the team all season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers need to make serious changes to how they play offense

I’m in favor of reshaping the roster, even if it’s just the starting lineup. I’m in favor of trades. I’m in favor of chasing down potential superstars that may want out of certain situations. Right now, I’m open to a lot of things.

What I can’t be talked out of, however, is the fact the Cavs need to part ways with some of their coaching. They need coaches in there who can really develop and push the offense past the point of where it is.

Too often the team would settle for mid-court junk shots. Most of the passing came in transition and against the Knicks, the only play they seemingly wanted to run was a high-pick-and-roll. Yet, when you watched the Miami Heat destroy the New York Knicks in Game 1, you saw a masterclass of passing. Not just from former Cavs forward Kevin Love, but from the whole team.

They made the extra pass and even the extra second and third passes. They worked hard to get some plays going and found people who were wide open. That’s something that’s taught and drilled, and clearly with the way the Cavs played; that’s not what happened in Cleveland.

Maybe they were taught that and they didn’t want to run it. In that case, you need new players.

Maybe they were taught it and didn’t execute it well. In that case, you need new players.

Maybe they weren’t taught it and didn’t run it. In that case, you need new coaches.

Whatever the scenario is, you need changes to the team. You may be able to fix the team with a better crop of coaches. After all, we know Luke Walton isn’t worth his salary, not after the way he hindered the Sacramento Kings.

Move on from some of the usual suspects and get some guys in there that know how it is to run a fast-paced, pass-heavy offense. Find someone who can maximize the talent you have, because the Cavs are too good to be getting demolished in the first round by a mid-tier Knicks team, with a mid-tier point guard who can’t shoot threes.