CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – With 30 wins in their pocket, the Cavaliers are among the feel-good stories of the NBA this season, which is good, and in some cases, not so good.
Sunday’s 115-105 loss at Detroit was a product of the latter according to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
“I honestly thought we were a team [Sunday] who spent three days reading their press clippings about how good they were,” Bickerstaff said prior to Monday night’s game against the Pelicans. “And then got off to that start and really were feeling ourselves. Then Detroit punched us in the face, and we had to figure out a way to respond and by then it was too late.”
Contract extensions for Bickerstaff and general manager Koby Altman followed their hot start, ensuring stability going forward, in the wake of their hot start to the 2021-22 season but Bickerstaff
Cleveland opened the game with a 15-0 run, but the Pistons slowly chipped away for the remaining 3 ½ quarters and ultimately closed it out down the stretch for their 12th victory of the season.
“It’s a long season,” Bickerstaff said. “And that’s what this league is about, is how do you persevere over the course of the entire season, and that’s been our message to our guys from day one.
“We’re a work in progress. We’re a young team that hasn’t done this before together, so all of these experiences are great experience for us as long as we learn from them, and we don’t repeat them.”
Prior to Monday night’s game against New Orleans, Bickerstaff praised how his team has responded to adversity to date this season and expects nothing less moving forward when it comes to learning lessons.
“This is a process for us and obviously in the moment you get frustrated because you know what we’re capable of, but when you look at it realistically, you’re going to have these things happen,” Bickerstaff said. “You are a young team that’s learning how to win consistently in this league and what that means on a night-by-night basis.
“You’re going to take those bumps and there’s going to be nights you have to learn those lessons.”
Closing time – The Cavs led until the 5:19 mark of the fourth quarter before the Pistons pulled away in the closing minutes.
“I think we’ve done a pretty good job of closing people out,” Bickerstaff said. “[Sunday] night obviously wasn’t the best example of it, but we’ve been in some pretty tight basketball games and found ways to win.”
Bickerstaff didn’t seem too concerned that there was any type of pattern forming in any of their close losses down the stretch in games.
“I don’t think it’s one particular thing,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s a consistent thing for us where our offense gets stagnant and that’s wen we stop moving and start staring down mismatches – that to me is the consistent thing – but that’s an issue when our offense gets stagnant, period.”
Size isn’t everything – One habit Bickerstaff doesn’t want his team to develop is becoming too enamored with their size thus bogging down the ball movement and flow offensively.
“We create size advantages a lot but what we can’t do is everybody who feels like they have a size advantage, just go post up in the middle of the floor,” Bickerstaff said. “And then we can’t just stop and stare at that mismatch and try to throw the ball to there because then the ball never gets to the second side of the floor, teams don’t have to move [and] they can just swallow up the strong side of the floor.
“We’ve got to be quicker in taking advantage of those mismatches.”
Garland out – Guard Darius Garland remained a gametime decision due to a sore lower back and did not play.
“He’ll stay questionable,” Bickerstaff said before the game.
Cedi Osman started in his place, the 300th NBA game of Osman’s career.
Markkanen progressing – Forward Lauri Markkanen is getting closer to returning after suffering a sprained ankle January 22.
“He’s progressing,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s doing well. He’s moving, he’s off the crutches, he’s in a shoe. He’s done light basketball stuff but he’s progressing well.
Markkanen is scheduled to make the trip with the Cavs this week, but Bickerstaff wouldn’t say whether or not he would play.
“There’s always a chance and we’ll see,” Bickerstaff said. “Not to be smug but you just get to know guys and how they respond and how quickly, but I really don’t have an answer for you.”
