Cavs Fire J.B. Bickerstaff. Does the NBA Have a Great Coaching Shortage? | The Bill Simmons Podcast

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Rob Mahoney discuss the Cavaliers' firing of J.B. Bickerstaff and the head-coaching situation around the league.
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[@robotclark]

The reason why there are so few great coaches is young coaches keep getting fired before than can mature and learn to be a great coach.

[@ryu-ken]

Owners cant wait for coaches to develop in todays game. Get results or get out

[@thomasredden4263]

@@ryu-kenlol then don’t expect results any time soon. You don’t just back into success, it’s earned with talent and getting better and building rapport, all huge parts of what has made every dynasty work. If you think you can just buy your way to that then you’ll be joining the Clippers, Suns and Nets in limbo, not good enough to win anything but no future picks or capital of any kind to get better.

[@robertriteman3227]

And then there are guys like Adrian Griffin who get fired despite having success because some whiny ::"star" does not like his usage - how did that work out !!! It also does not help that players do not realize that being a good coach does not mean liking the same music

[@JackTheGod100]

This but there’s also some young coaches that are allowed to lose and figure things out it makes no sense. I’d take JB coaching Portland over Billups asap.

[@DJ_BROBOT]

that false...you cant keep a coach if they suck or they are on a playoff team that cannot get over the hump with them. You dont have time for that

[@davidstenner3136]

Does anyone remember how bad the Cavs were a few years ago. How can anyone be mad about where they are now.

[@terry7907]

The entire Cavs ownership and fan base.

[@AstralScourge]

Thank you!

[@freemoneyempire9745]

Every team is adopting this “win now” mentality when in the end only one team can win

[@openmike4559]

They’re better because of the roster, not because of bickerstaff. Bickerstaff and his dad are horrible overrated coaches. Affirmative action hires, nothing more.

[@XenoMecha]

@@openmike4559 He's not a good coach but don't pull that affirmative action bullshit. JB is a great developmental coach and set the foundation for The Cavs moving forward. I just don't think he's ready for the bigger stage yet. But yea, that language you used at the end just screams racist incel, so you may want to avoid it unless you wanna sound like one of those """"""""alpha male""""""" dudes.

[@OEx25]

Only people that don’t watch the Cavs regularly are confused / criticizing this firing. JB was fine for being a leader of young guys on a rebuilding team, but proved time after time after time after time he was in WAY over his head when it came to game management and coaching and even mildly competent offense. The team is better than it was a few years ago because they acquired Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and their young draft picks are aren’t rookies anymore. They lucked out and got the easiest opponent in the East in round 1 and struggled to get through that series. 90% of Cavs fans will tell you they are thrilled with the firing. Wish him the best, but the team improved in spite of JB, not because of him

[@______9484]

Who should they replace him with?

[@Clevelandsportsfann22]

​@______9484 Anybody who knows offense..this was the same thing with Mike brown, he was a defensive coach he didn't really run an offense. Mike brown also won alot of regular season games but wasn't a great playoff coach because our offense was predictable

[@______9484]

@@Clevelandsportsfann22 Who should they replace him with?

[@Rik3n]

Easiest team was the Heat because Jimmy was out for the playoffs

[@Clevelandsportsfann22]

@______9484 Bruh I have no idea lol

[@BennettYancey]

Coaches are easier to get rid of when the team falls below expectations.

[@jjstraka1982]

What were the expectations for the Cavs?

[@jacktheleper4468]

The reason teams need a sacrificial goat when they underperform expectations is because the NBA is one giant PR mill where they have to constantly hype up the team and the situation regardless of reality. So as to get the fans hyped about the next season, which gets people to buy in, which makes them more money $. So every under performing year on every team something needs to change in order for the PR folks to renew faith in their fans willingness to spend money on the team

[@shorewall]

100%

[@Earl_E_Burd]

That's a good point. Only a few out of 30 are gonna reach their expectations. The other piece is that they're not gonna fire their crony buddies in exec/front office. The stars are too hard to get or move, so that leaves middle mgmt (coaching). Similar as corporate, need a fall guy so leadership doesn't take accountability.

[@mgee1723]

This is real

[@SomeChink]

absolutely you gotta sell hope

[@deanoost9599]

JJ Redick can coach 3 or 4 teams himself. That might help.

[@SIMSANITYY]

Huh ?

[@colonialstraits1069]

@@SIMSANITYYsarcasm

[@kcuba1228]

Did people quickly forget how HORRIBLE JB managed his squads against the Hawks 2022, Knicks 2023? The Cavs are so inconsistent and his firing is totally reasonable.

[@mindyourbuisness8104]

He was horrible against the knicks he wasn't quite as bad this year

[@Clevelandsportsfann22]

​@@mindyourbuisness8104I'm not a jb hater but bruh played niang too..damn..much. Morris should have played way more than niang..it was just time for a new voice and we need an offensive coach

[@sammyttheg412]

I hate when a team trades 3 1sts and 2 swaps and the media calls it 5 picks. The cavs traded 3 firsts in the Mitchell trade, the two swaps only matter if Utah has a better record then Cleveland which is far from a certainity. The also traded ochai who was a first round pick who hasn't shown much, sexton who they didn't want to pay, and Lauri who yes has been good but again koby acquired markanan is a sign and trade for larry nance jr without giving up any picks. If Mitchell extends and then asks a trade they're getting a very similar return back. Hes a top 10-15 player

[@SomeChink]

In what universe is Donovan Mitchell a top 10-15 player? He is not a perennial All-NBA player

[@jamelwilliams808]

If J.J Reddick can Coach..ok fine Then Mark Williams, Rajon Rondo, Sam Cassell, Stephen Silas all deserves the same opportunity for interviews and/or job offers..

[@scattau41]

Sam Cassell would be a great coach

[@robertriteman3227]

No person has more overlooked more than Sam Cassel ( and did not play for any team that I actually support but it was clear as a player and a assistant coach that he is the real deal ) . I hope he gets a HC job with an organization that has some patience. He would be good with a team that had some promising talent that needs 2-3 years to develop

[@KK-pm7ud]

Who are we kidding? LeBron is the coach of the Lakers until he leaves.

[@notoriousLSGshow]

Is SC the Eric beienemy (?) of the nba

[@Dubz759]

I have a strong feeling you think this way for reasons other than their coaching ability. Token hire

[@PhilM4]

Great coaches are Spo, Kerr, Ime Udoka, Pop, Thibs (if he could manage injuries) Good Coaches are Joe Mazzula, Rick Carlisle (pacers), Timberwolves coach, Bickerstaff Poor coaches are Billy Donovan, Monty Williams, Doc Rivers

[@Bo55world]

They fire coaches after winning the finals or getting to them after a few years. It's a win or your throat is cut type of league

[@Earl_E_Burd]

This whole episode was a good one last night.

[@jamesmarshall6619]

The one thing I think we also overlook is how often coaches might be limited in what they can call due to roster construction or ability of the player. We all can criticize rotations or substitutions but we don't know is in practice are certain players just not grasping concepts, are certain lineups of guys just bad, is a guy hurting or a bit injured which prevents some tactics, is a certain guy quietly an a-hole who is angering his teammates so a coach more quietly holds him accountable or a GM or owner doesn't empower the coach to hold them accountable, etc. It's not always so clear and I think sometimes coaches get blamed for things in which there options are truly limited but since we're not with the team day to day we don't realize it.

[@ronhenton]

I've been saying this forever! I think the percentage of good coaches follows the percentage of All NBA/All Star level players...10% of the coaches are good 5% are bad like an end of the bench player and the other 85% are more like role players meaning they have to have players that fit how they coach...Vogel is a great example - all the teams he's done well with have had defensive minded players up and down the roster, but when he doesn't have that it doesn't seem like he knows what to do....is it any wonder Thibs looks great with this year's Knicks? They look just like the DRose Bulls and the team fell apart at the end just like those teams

[@openmike4559]

you’re not very bright

[@Iceman-xe7jo]

@@openmike4559😂

[@homerthompson416]

I get nervous hearing Bill talk about what the Spurs should do after he spent all last summer talking about how the Spurs should have gone out and gotten Jordan Poole.

[@drazzzpoppp5022]

Coaching staff is bigger then player roster in todays NBA.Too many inputs.

[@jpjohns2466]

The Dan Gilbert hate is so weird. Look at interviews with previous players...those both in and out of the league...Dan and the organization always get great feedback. Granted the Comics Sans letter is an obvious black eye but that's it.

[@paulgoodwin3640]

He sucks at running the team and producing championships. No one cares if players thought he had a good personality. Dude had LeBron for 10+ years and only has 1 championship to show, because a miracle happened when they came back from 3-1. He's clueless. Also you could easily hate him just for his shitty mortgage business alone.

[@jpjohns2466]

@@paulgoodwin3640 The Cavs consistently spent into the luxury tax and were always in top 10 of salary cap back then. He let(s) Danny Ferry, Chris Grant, David Griffin, Koby Altman run the team. When they don't produce or needs a new voice, he acted. What else would you want an owner to do other than spend money, let basketball people make decisions, and treat people well. His mortgage business wins awards for customer service. He's used a lot of those proceeds to reinvest in the inner city of Detroit. Yes he profits from that but what the f do I care so long as he keeps spending money on Cavs.

[@FRL2000]

Stephen Silas is available if any team wants to lose a lot of games.

[@robertriteman3227]

Be honest - even Spoestra would not have been a lottery team with the pile of crap SS got handed. Not exactly a measurement of whether he would be good or bad.

[@c.sanchez5523]

NBA coaches are becoming like high-profile soccer club managers.

[@nailfelagund7508]

What? In soccer/football we've never had more quality coaches than now.

[@williamwhite2113]

It doesn't matter who a team brings in to coach a team. If the team's superstar has the juice to fire the head coach then what's the point? Insanity is doing the same thing over and over hoping for a different result. Examples, Giannis in Milwaukee having Adrian Griffin, LeBron everywhere who succeeds in firing coaches every couple of years. Owners care about keeping the stars happy at the expense of team success and that's not good.

[@spicysauce11]

Need more CR on Ringer NBA pods again!

[@slomo1203]

Yo.. Bill is rippin the Clips!

[@KK-pm7ud]

Lots of great coaches in the league, but everyone ignores their fit with the organization. Spolstra is a great coach, obviously. But imagine him in a Cavs or Suns organization with a lack of support from management. The Heat players know that Spo is in charge because Riley has his back and the culture of the team has been established. Imagine Spo this season with the Cavs with no support from management. Spo would tell the players to do things and they would just go behind his back to a moronic management that gives the players whatever they want. The Knicks might have been an example of this with Phil Jackson. And the Suns with Vogel too.

[@chrisyang05]

This is why I said Knicks shouldn't have traded for Mitchell 2 years ago, because they were not ready to win a title with him yet. Cavs is a small market team acting like a big market team, swinging for the fence, and now that they struck out, someone has to pay the price. Knicks, in my opinion, are doing it the right way, stability brings success, they're in a much better position to win than other up-and-coming teams.

[@xxMagicMike]

Imagine if they just kept markannen and didn’t make the Mitchell trade or let’s say hypothetically made a Mikel bridges trade centred around Allen. Garland insert guard insert bridges type player via trade markannen mobley would be a very solid roster

[@mr.e347]

Don is reason Cavs made playoffs. Lauri good but not same level as Don. Neither Garland is on same level.

[@Iceman-xe7jo]

Cavs should have kept Bickerstaff, trade Mitchell and get a wing and get a solid bench guy. They are about to screw up what Bickerstaff was building. Mitchell isn’t that dude.

[@simplySY8]

I feel like the cavs did as well as they could have done. When you look at the team, the players they have.. this is likely the best they could do its madness to fire a coach when they basically hit the current ceiling of the potential they have.

[@brob8204]

I agree. Especially with the injuries to a couple of key players.

[@Clevelandsportsfann22]

That man lost me when he kept putting niang on the court over morris..I'm not saying I'm happy he's fired but it was time to go in another direction. He's a defensive coach we need a coach with a offensive mind now. Mike brown had the same problem, he won in the regular season but couldn't adjust in the playoffs because he was a defensive coach. JB did a good job but we collapsed every year after the all star break under him..its time to get a coach who doesn't wanna be cool with the players..JB will get another job but he needs to go to like the hornets wizards teams that are about to rebuild not compete for titles

[@limitedbom2206]

You guys said it, it’s not a coaching issue, it’s an X factor issue. Either the star player or GM needs someone to blame so they fire the coach. If they were really bad coaches, they would be out of the nba, but everyone just goes from team to team.

[@pepesilvia3573]

Bill saying he misses underperforming college coaches in the pros and not mentioning JBs predecessor in Cleveland John Beilein who lasted half a season is a missed opportunity lol

[@notoriousLSGshow]

Lol good point 4got bout him

[@mr.e347]

At times some coaches being fired is unfair. This is not one of them.

[@markitobarca]

Love bills takes

[@ishetrying]

Monty Williams shouldn't get blame for not playing Jaden Ivey. He should get credit for being honest about the fact that Ivey can't shoot, has a weak handle, doesn't defend well, and has a very poor understanding of the game overall. The kid is a track and field athlete who is lost on the basketball court.

[@dprestons0318]

Bill still thinks that GMs, and not players, fire coaches. Living in the past.

[@freeman7239]

Now Kenny Atkinson as Cavs coach...he's the ultimate "it's us against the world " type of coach...He did a good job with The NETS...Sam Cassell yes YES...he brings Moxi...which Mobley needs

[@themanbehindthecurtain3333]

When we treated the unicorn Was a part of the dawn of a Mitchell trade I was maybe the most disappointed cavs fan... out of our 3 big men ....He was the most talented and he is even more talented than Evan mobley at this point in their career

[@LeviDavidSchaffer]

Dude finch is a really good coach. Don't mind the family photo of Vikings garb in the profile pic.

[@dakdak612]

Only tier 1 coaches are Kerr Spo and Pop. Tier 2 is udoka

[@onthesnap4606]

bill u gotta up the video quality of these. its like 2002 video tape here cmon

[@MarsofAritia]

yeah, we need 8k video quality of people sitting down talking lol

[@onthesnap4606]

How about 1080p like the rest of the 1st world

[@MarsofAritia]

@@onthesnap4606 720 is more than enough for this. even 360 would be fine. there's nothing important that needs to be seen.

[@scottburlington6645]

Love how bill is like stop blaming these coaches it's not really their fault. But also, we gotta fire ty lue!

[@Clevelandsportsfann22]

The cavs need a offensive minded coach. JB did what he was supposed to do, but hes not great with running offense, that was mike brown issue too and he had lebron. Mike brown was a defensive minded coach just like JB wins alot of regular season games but cant really adjust in the playoffs. JB is a decent coach but it was time to go in another direction definitely...oh and him sticking with niang was not a good move when Morris was a way better player..leaving players in too long when they stinking up the joint, not calling time outs when teams go on huge runs..oh yeah he had some bad flaws but he did some good but, it was just time

[@franktank334]

7:06 Bill coming after Ty Lou for taking the Mavs to six games when the Mavs might very well win the NBA finals is hilarious

[@StocktonSmurf]

The only way out of this pattern is to start paying coaches more as you build your team with them and stars as center pieces. It’s just bad sports management

[@notoriousLSGshow]

That's not working , look how many millions & millions these fired coaches get after being fired 😅

[@caseystark6277]

He did get 4 years, it wasn't like he was one and done

[@chaos-fk6fs]

no the nba has a great front office shortage thats the problem, it feels like half of the teams and coaches are almost setup to fail

[@1stKindChris]

Ummmmm Ty Lue took a Clippers team with PG and Reggie Jackson to 6 games in a Western Conference Finals against the Suns......

[@RIDGEMATIC]

Retread coaches are a problem. Firing a champion like Vogel is a problem. Hiring a JJ Redick over a San Cassell is a problem. The NBA politricks are a PROBLEM!!¡

[@sammyttheg412]

Altman also aquired lauri for nothing. He got Allen for nothing basically pick 30 in the draft. He drafted pretty well. Jb was a good motivator coach but he had huge flaws. Poor rotations, poor to management, poor xs ans os guy. They'll be alright they have tons talent

[@anthony20331]

Casuals not even mentioning Johnnie Bryant

[@tbirdbrad3210]

Players on the ones on the floor and the most responsible for failure. How we continue paying higher and higher salaries for players that are losers is comical and sad. GMs as well, they are the builders and scouting the talent. Coaches are the least responsible for failure yet most often fired for it. Players and GMs have no accountability.

[@Jack-jx6ln]

Bill pulled out his fastball for this one

[@ianszcze]

Maybe they don’t let coaches develop into great ones 🤷‍♂️

[@Bdot1588]

It’s almost like it’s the players that matter … what a novel idea

[@thow3018]

A whole segment on JB Bickerstaff without talking about how his coaching decisions effected the Cavs. He was not a great coach and I understand there are not that many transformative coaches but his time was clearly up (it has been for a while but whatever) It’s funny bill brings up the college coaches coming to the NBA when the Cavs were the last team with a disaster college guy, rip John Beilein one of the worst nba coaches in recent memory

[@stophoaxing345]

I can’t believe how bad Carlisle is coaching.

[@notoriousLSGshow]

I want lakers to hire JJ, as a lakers fan itll ALL be on LBJ - no F'n excuses

[@razkable]

The only coaches that i like are kerr spo carlisle popovich and nurse...everyone else sucks

[@mattreynolds612]

Bernie (Sr) Bickerstaff was the absolute worst GM in NBA history with the Nuggets. Systematically dismantling their entire organization. J.B. was winning the state title at the time. He's WAY better than his Dad was. Jus sayin' ⛏️🏀 & yes, he (Sr.) still deserves the shade. Lol. I'm a fan of J.B. ¿But his pops? Hell NO!!!

[@SomeChink]

Rob made a great point, the vast majority of coaches are not that good/bad, 85~90% are the same and are not moving the needle for your team

[@danotbob]

Kerr is the best coach in the NBA beyond Pop. Spo was only winning championships with LeBron and hasn't won it all since.

[@exceptionallife4768]

Talking heads paid to talk… if you watch the team you would know why they fired JB… he is good with young guys but he isn’t ready to win deep into the playoffs yet, he gets out coached.. he needs to develop a more complex offense as well

[@lars2dots]

ime the best coach in the league imo.

[@montevans7110]

Idk what he did wrong ? His whole team was hurt during the playoffs.

[@jordanshaw9087]

I need to know what he did wrong

[@reedjohnson7530]

vogel's "success" with the magic LMAO

[@tjordan9249]

Like the chippiness amongst the fellas, it doesnt come across as artifical and obnoxious like ESPNs

[@brettdavis5873]

Let’s get nuts…Rick pitino to the cavs

[@TheRulersBack18]

blaming jb when he was coaching without mitchell and allen is certainly a choice. there's a reason these franchises don't win

[@butters3428]

Chris Ryan is the GOAT!!!!!!!!!!

[@Rodrickwashington-mf5dk]

Cut the BS Sam Cassel deserves a look after 15 years as an assistant and an elite playing career

[@oldirtydasher]

Someone hire Vinnie Del Negro

[@MarsofAritia]

of course. we live in north korea after all!

[@joehenry709]

Your only as good as your players. Pop was one of the best ever with Duncan now without Duncan he can't coach. Talent makes the coach nowadays. Not no Larry Browns in the league anymore

[@mariohostios]

NBA has problems- PR issues and insulting the fans is NOT good

[@notoriousLSGshow]

Does anyone here think marc Jackson got F'd, he had the warriors improving b4 kerr came in

[@eriknewton4656]

I think the NBA has a patience issue

[@wavedgoblin]

As a spurs fan if pop coached the lakers I would die 😂

[@F5Season]

Coaches just get passed around for a while - even if they do a poor job

[@MassillonObie]

You guys clearly don’t follow the team day to day. JB’s in-game management was a disaster. He also gripes at the refs ALL GAME. He was good to get a young team to this point. He’s not the guy to win a championship.

[@Wardenlw]

Love when two guys who know less about basketball than the average fan try to analyze nba coaching

[@bennetthansen2212]

Darth Vader did come to the light side of the force....

[@koolflows7581]

Clevelands done they fired they best coach in a long time so its back to mediocracy for them

[@deliriumcamper]

You clueless guys just can't get over Gilbert and no one in Cleveland understands why. He's been a fine owner who was pissed he lost LeBron 12 years ago.

[@therockneverstops8261]

Lakers need to go grab JB IMMEDIATELY!!!!

[@user-zm7de7ec7d]

How is Frank Vogel not a proven coach?

[@dreamcage1801]

Today’s players are too pampered and entitled

[@Rodrickwashington-mf5dk]

Criticizing Ty-Lue lets me know he doesn’t know shit about ball for real .

[@godsunknicks2832]

And this Bill is why people hate the Celtics. Joe Mazzula couldn’t beat the 8th seeded Heat

[@lghrns]

Maybe because these soft ass players don't ever want to play, it's the playoffs man and you got dudes sitting out? Soft! Adam Silver let these players run the league and it shows. Mitchell really about to make 200 million for nothing. Maaaannn NBA owners needs to have a discussion with the NFL

[@notoriousLSGshow]

What players sitting out playoffs games not hurt - Rudy G but he wanted to see his 1st kid be born ( not saying I agree , but only example I kno of player sitting not hurt )

[@Suremane]

FREE MARK JACKSON!!!!!

[@scattau41]

Free the guys

[@blessembreaks]

Coaching is so overrated. Its evident now more than ever that teams are managed and coached by the players. The alphas are the ones who get everyone in line and in sync. The players are the ones who call the plays really. And u can see it in places like Boston. Where one coach leaves the next one steps in and the team is just as good if not better. Does anyone think Lebron isnt the coach of the Lakers? Look at how shitty Monty Williams is w/o Durant, Booker and Chris Paul. Do ppl actually believe Steve Kerr is the reason why the Warriors were so good for all those yrs?? Its a players league now. Players form superteams, they force trades, they are the ones who win or lose not the coaches. All players need now are an analytics team, a scout who only watches tape of opposing teams and players to identify strengths and weaknesses and tendencies of other players, and another scout who identifies talent from overseas and domestically from college ball. Literally no use for a coach during the game. None at all

[@joshkelly482]

Middle dude talking about a coach being great at challenges.. lol. How out of touch

[@sportsfan404]

Cle has terrible ownership.

[@FrankBreezy]

Wow this is a complete joke. The nba is a joke.

[@ethanedwards7557]

Then why are you spending your time watching and commenting on videos about it? 😂😂😂

[@biggeneral1628]

Bill is a 🤡 for just blowing off Kawhi being injured in his Lue criticism

[@michaelstover6778]

Does the dude in the right know anything? He said Vogel was successful in Orlando bill upgrade your guests

[@David-iv6je]

Or alternatively he misspoke and meant the Pacers, where he coached a WAY over-achieving team that almost took down the Heatles in 13 and 14. Top 3 players: young Paul George, Roy Hibbert and David West. See, when guys shoot the shit they sometimes misspeak. And then the d-bags in teh comments section jump down their throats. Besides CR is epically funny if you've ever watched his film reviews. I'm gonna trust the judgement of media mogul BS.

[@Euclid06]

@@David-iv6jeexactly this 😂😂😂

[@kb5509]

The "dude on the right" is an international treasure.

[@paulgoodwin3640]

No, NBA teams are lazy and boring and can only fathom interviewing top assistants in the league. You get out what you put in, go find the next coaching prodigy. Quit making excuses and make it a priority to find and develop coaching talent. Don't let the next guy pick all his buddies for the staff, fill it with winners. But thats not what will happen. JB sucks ass, he needed fired.

[@Thisisjohn2184]

I see Chris Ryan, I downvote.

[@brettdavis5873]

Kyrie got on medication let’s be real

[@ineedsaltplease620]

CR sucks stop with him please

[@RookiexLee]

You guys are clueless