Look Out JB Bickerstaff, Cavs Paying Preseason Visit

The Cavaliers will know their full schedule by week’s end, but when it comes to 2024-25, they at least know who they’ll face when the games don’t count.

Yes, it’s true — the preseason schedule has arrived. And the first two of those exhibition games are in Cleveland. Let’s get right to it:

• Oct. 8: vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.
• Oct. 10: vs. Indiana, 7 p.m.
• Oct. 16: at Detroit, 7 p.m.
• Oct. 18: at Chicago, 8 p.m.

We can safely assume Bally Sports Ohio will carry the games, though whether Bally will continue to exist seems to be a question from week to week. But someone, somewhere will broadcast Cavs games this year, and probably Cavs preseason games.

Anyway, not much is notable about the preseason, unless you like watching a bunch of G Leaguers in the third and fourth quarters. (Side note: I do.)

But the Cavs will square off for the first time against old coach J.B. Bickerstaff, now the coach of the Pistons. Bickerstaff spent five-plus seasons in Cleveland and took the Cavs to the playoffs in each of the past two. They went from the play-in to the first round of the playoffs to the Eastern Conference semifinals in each of the past three seasons, respectively.

I can tell you Bickerstaff was none-too-pleased that the Cavs decided to part ways. He seemingly felt as if he deserved a few more seasons to finish what he started — much like the seven years Michael Malone got with the Denver Nuggets before finally winning a title. The Cavs felt otherwise and hired former Brooklyn Nets head coach and ex-Golden State Warriors (boo) assistant Kenny Atkinson.

Of course, the Cavs and the Pistons will play several times during the real season, given that they’re both in the Central Division. They used to have quite a rivalry, back in the early 1990s, and again in the mid-2000s.

Now, with Bickerstaff there, maybe they will again. He was a good coach to lead a rebuilding and remade Cavs squad and will most certainly be the same for the Pistons.