Inside The Rockets

Former Rockets Coach J.B. Bickerstaff Fighting for Cavs Job in Game 7

J.B. Bickerstaff coached the Houston Rockets on an interim basis in 2015-16. Now, he's with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who face a Game 7 against the Orlando Magic.

Jeremy Brener

Apr 25, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff shouts during the
Apr 25, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach JB Bickerstaff shouts during the / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA has just one game on its slate today, an afternoon matinee Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic.

However, there's a slight Houston Rockets angle to today's game, as J.B. Bickerstaff coaches what could be the final game of his tenure with the Cavaliers.

Bickerstaff got his first head coaching opportunity with the Rockets in 2015 when the team fired Kevin McHale after just 11 games. Bickerstaff took over in the interim and was able to get the Rockets to 41-41 and the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, ultimately losing in the first round in five games to the 73-win Golden State Warriors.

Bickerstaff joined the Memphis Grizzlies following that season, coaching the team for two years before his dismissal. Then, in 2019-20, Bickerstaff was named the team's head coach after John Beilein infamously resigned. He's been the coach in Cleveland ever since, leading the team to a pair of playoff berths.

However, Bickerstaff's seat in Cleveland could be hot, especially if the Cavs lose Game 7. The team regressed from 51 wins to 48 this year after underperforming in the postseason in 2023. Another first-round exit would be deemed as an unsuccessful season, which could prompt the Cavs to make a change — and Bickerstaff could end up being the scapegoat.

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Jeremy Brener

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.