J.B. feeling heat but probably should be back
- col-aaron-dorksen
- May 15, 2024
- 1092
A few thoughts from the week in sports …
Despite a valiant effort from an undermanned team, the Cleveland Cavaliers dropped a 109-102 matchup against the Boston Celtics in game four of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on May 13.
The Celtics took a commanding three games to one lead in the best-of-seven series. Boston was a 15-point favorite to finish off the series in Beantown on May 15 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, prior to the press deadline for this column.
As soon as any pro season ends, there’s a rush to make quick decisions. Was the season a success? A failure? Which players should be let go? Should the coach be retained or fired?
No one will be under more scrutiny in the Cavaliers’ organization after the season ends than fifth-year head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Bickerstaff has led the team to winning records in each of the last four seasons and the playoffs the last two years. After being bounced in the first round by the Knicks in 2022-23, the Cavs beat the Orlando Magic in a tough seven-game series before working themselves into a major hole against the Celtics.
Even the biggest Bickerstaff critics can’t point the blame at him in the 2023-24 playoffs. The Magic are an outstanding young team, which won just one fewer game than the Cavs. Bickerstaff led Cleveland to its first playoff series win without LeBron James since 1993. Don’t take that for granted.
No one can say the Cavs didn’t give it their all against Boston. Despite being a 13-point underdog in game two against the Celtics, Cleveland pulled off a 118-94 road win.
In game four against Boston, the Cavs played without starters Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen and still put out a great effort. If not for a 24-7 foul discrepancy in favor of Boston, Cleveland may just have evened the series up.
The Cavs took the ball to the basket the whole night, and to only be awarded seven free throws on their home floor was ridiculous. Sam Merrill was clearly fouled on a 3-point attempt to close the third quarter.
Even Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert sent out a postgame Tweet alluding to the big difference in free throws.
There’s a great deal of talent on the Cavs, starting with their Big Four of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Allen. However, Mitchell and Garland don’t always seem to play well together.
To bring it all back to Bickerstaff, should he stay or go?
I say give Bickerstaff one more season. The Cavs have shaken off the “soft” image of being manhandled in last year’s Knicks’ series by showing resilience to outlast the Magic and battle the heavily favored Celtics.
Bickerstaff has come a long way with the Cavs and should get one more year to see what he can do with a healthy team in the playoffs.
More offseason questions
The other biggest story of the Cavs’ offseason is the 27-year-old Mitchell. The All-Star could sign a contract extension with the Cavs for up to four years and approximately $200 million this summer. Mitchell has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season.
If Mitchell declines that option, he would become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason of 2025.
—Our old friend LeBron James sat courtside for game four of the Celtics series in Cleveland with his wife Savannah, who had a strong hat game going, and agent Rich Paul. When James was shown on the scoreboard, it brought a big round of applause and obviously opened up speculation as to what he was doing in Cleveland.
Was it just to watch a game in the arena he brought its only title? Or is he thinking about actually returning to the Cavs? Maybe with his son Bronny James?
LeBron 3.0 and Bronny 1.0 in Cleveland would be an absolute media circus. The duo will draw lots of attention wherever they go, with the 39-year-old LeBron a possible free agent if he decides to opt out of his Lakers’ contract this summer and 19-year-old Bronny declaring for the NBA Draft.
Although Bronny has been listed as 6-foot-4 throughout his career, he officially measured just 6-1 at the NBA combine. This casts even more doubt on how effective he will be in the NBA after averaging just 4.8 points a game as a freshman at USC and also experiencing health issues.
Almost certainly, the James duo will be a package deal wherever they go. I doubt the James Gang will come back to Cleveland, but it’s tough to predict what LeBron will do.
Parting shots
Orrville graduate DK McDonald has been hired by Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold as the co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
McDonald, a 1997 Orrville graduate, has been on the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff since 2021 and was the defensive backs coach in 2023. McDonald was a four-year starter at Edinboro from 1997-2000 and has been a coach for 22 seasons.
—Congratulations to Lisa Campanell Komara on her retirement after a 40-year coaching career including the last 27 years at The College of Wooster.
Campanell Komara started the Scots’ women’s golf program in 2010, and her teams compiled a 529-378-9 record including 155-60-5 the last three years. She was the Scots’ women’s basketball coach from 1997-2010, winning 122 games.
—Best wishes to longtime area sports reporter Josh McWilliams, who announced via his Facebook page he needs to have a kidney removed.
McWilliams has made great contributions to the area sports scene over the last two decades, from starting on the sports desk at The Daily Record answering phone calls and writing up game recaps to creating his own brand with social media updates, videos and, most recently, photography. I have a lot of good memories working with Josh and hanging out with him, and he also has thousands of other friends and followers also wishing him a healthy recovery.
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at aarondorksen24@gmail.com.