Cleveland Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff revealed how he was learning from the NBA Finals series between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat on a Tuesday edition of “Run It Back” by FanDuel TV.
“What I aim to do is continue to study, try to learn and get better,” JB Bickerstaff said, via FanDuel. “I want to be able to help this team and this organization as much as I possibly can. I want to be able to help our players as much as I possibly can.
“Not only do I watch, but I listen, too. I think one of the things that in listening to Miami, the Heat, Jimmy Butler and their comments, they keep saying that they don’t care what anybody else thinks. When you play with that type of mindset, you can play without any insecurities and play with complete confidence.”
It’s not the first time the 44-year-old Cavaliers coach has looked to learn from other organizations.
Bickerstaff had contacted Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona before the Cavs took on the New York Knicks in the playoffs. He found similarities in the youth and the scrappiness of the Cavs and the Guardians, who sit in second place in the AL Central with a record of 27-32.
Bickerstaff added he was trying to figure out how the Cavs can bring the same consistency and level of confidence shown by the Nuggets and the Heat.
“As an organization, you look at the Heat and the Nuggets from top to bottom and you see the consistency that’s been there,” Bickerstaff said. “The consistency in their core players, the consistency in their coaching staff, front office, ownership group.
“That allows your players to play with the freedom and confidence where the only thing that they’re thinking about is ‘how do we go out and win to the highest level that we can possibly win.’ I think that’s extremely important.”
