JB Bickerstaff on Cavs’ Lack of Playoff Familiarity: ‘I’m Confident in Our Group’

Most of the Cavaliers are new to the playoffs, but that isn’t keeping coach J.B. Bickerstaff from believing in good things.

“I’m confident in our group, period,” he told the media. “I believe when we’re at our best, we’re a tough out for anybody. We need to make sure we’re aware and tighten up the details and our execution and all those things.”

The Cavs (51-31) finished second in the Central Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. This marks the first time since 1993 — or 30 years for those keeping track at home — that they own home-court advantage in a first-round series without LeBron James on the team.

This time, it comes against the Knicks, who the Cavs last met in a playoff series in 1996. The Knicks won in a first-round sweep — and beat the Cavs in four games in 1995. 

Other than that, the only Cavs-Knicks playoff series took place in 1978, back when the first round was a best-of-three series. The Knicks won, 2-0.

Interestingly, Knicks legend Walt Frazier played for the Cavs that season, alongside Austin Carr and Campy Russell. Frazier is now a member of the Knicks’ broadcast crew, with Carr and Russell doing the same on Cavs TV.

Today, the big names are Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen for the Cavs, and Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle (when healthy) for the Knicks. Randle has a sprained ankle, but is expected to give it a go for Game 1 in Cleveland on Saturday.

Either way, the Cavs’ core is still younger than that of the Knicks. Oh, and Bickerstaff has been the head coach in one playoff series. Or actually, he was the interim coach for the Rockets during their brief stop in the playoffs in 2015-16. So it’s safe to say Bickerstaff is less experienced in these moments than Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.

Basically, this is all pretty new to the majority of these Cavs. And we all know the playoffs are a different animal.

“It’s going to be a new test for us,” Bickerstaff said. “We have guys that are going to be in their first playoff series. So it’s never going to come easy, but I have a lot of confidence in our group.”

Interestingly, Knicks legend Walt Frazier played for Cavs during the 1978 playoff series — along with Campy Russell and Austin Carr. All three now members of their team’s broadcast crews.

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) April 10, 2023