(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Not many NBA teams would’ve fired their coach after losing in the second round of the playoffs.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were the exception to that rule, letting J.B. Bickerstaff go shortly after the loss to the Boston Celtics.
All things considered, it was quite a successful season for the Cavs, as they won 48 games and had the No. 4 seed, and even won a playoff series despite having all of their star players missing plenty of time.
Even so, it seems like it wasn’t much of a surprise, not even to Bickerstaff.
According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, the team didn’t necessarily feel like they could run it back next season.
“The tenor and the demeanor of the players at the conclusion of the season wouldn’t indicate that they were exactly thrilled with the direction of the team,” – @WindhorstESPN. pic.twitter.com/1V44ufWM51
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) May 25, 2024
Talking on ESPN Cleveland, he revealed that the “tenor and demeanor” of the players and the locker room didn’t make it seem as if they were satisfied with the current direction of the team.
Some reports have emerged about Bickerstaff’s desire to be in control of all things and how that rubbed some people and players the wrong way.
There are also rumors of the players being displeased with Jarrett Allen and his decision not to play through a rib injury in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Cavs some big decisions to make in the offseason, and it’ll all start with Donovan Mitchell’s contract extension — or lack thereof.
From there, it won’t be easy to find a coach who can turn the culture around and keep building on this success, and getting the players to buy in might be the toughest task.
The post Brian Windhorst Has A Telling Statement About Cavs’ Locker Room appeared first on The Cold Wire.