Cleveland Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff reflected on the Cavs’ first 50-win campaign since the 2017-18 season, Cleveland.com Cavs reporter Chris Fedor wrote in a Wednesday article.
“It’s an accomplishment for sure,” JB Bickerstaff said. “Winning 50 games in the NBA is not easy. The NBA season is long, it’s grueling, it’s difficult, it’s emotional. But being able to have a group of guys that commit themselves to the team, no matter the circumstances, the selflessness with all the other things that they have going on in the world, for them to sacrifice and move those things to the side, and just continue to focus on the team and do whatever it takes to continue to build a team.
“We were not a repeat project. This was a new group, different dynamics and there were individuals who decided to just continue to sacrifice, buy in to what we do on both sides of the ball and care more about the team than themselves. To get to 50 wins with a group like that those guys are deserving of a round of applause in our respect and appreciation.”
Cleveland has earned exactly 50 wins on three different occasions throughout the franchise’s history before this season, including the Finals run in the 2017-18 season, according to Basketball Reference. The Cavs’ highest win total came in the 2008-09 season, when the LeBron James-led Cavaliers won 66 games and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic.
Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell dropped 43 points in a 117-113 win over the Magic on Tuesday, marking his fourth-straight Cavs game of scoring 40 points or more. Another win over Orlando would push Cleveland to 51 wins, tying the win total they earned in the 2016-17 season.
The Cavs will tip off against the Magic at 7 p.m. EDT on Thursday in the Amway Center. The game will be broadcasted on Bally Sports Ohio.
