Friday is the first game of the post-John Beilein era. Well, kind of. Beilein has been reassigned to a different role in the organization, but J.B. Bickerstaff is now the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their first test? In Washington to take on the Wizards.
This game will be quite telling in regards to the situation in Cleveland. If the Cavs come out and look like a competent team for the first time this season and it will not be a good look for their former head coach. There were several times this season that the Cavaliers look completely outmatched and it may not be entirely related to talent.
There is the possibility that the Cavaliers under Bickerstaff look like a much improved team. The opposite is also true. Cleveland has some talented players, but the roster construction is not great. There may be too much to overcome by just swapping out the head coach.
Facing the Wizards could provide the Cavs a good chance of getting off on the right foot under Bickerstaff. Like the Cavaliers, the Wizards are not a great team. Washington has a -4.2 point differential per game this season, the sixth-worst in the league (Cleveland’s -8.9 is the worst). There is a distinct difference between the two teams that is worth mentioning here. The Wizards have the sixth-highest scoring average this season (115.6) while the Cavaliers have the fourth-worst (106.1). Washington could very well win by a lopsided margin in the first game back from the All-Star Break.
