J.B. Bickerstaff Plans On Stabilizing Role For Key Cavalier
The term “unsung hero” gets thrown out there too much sometimes, but when analyzing what he actually did for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, Caris LeVert perfectly fits the bill.
For the entirety of the 2022-23 campaign, J.B. Bickerstaff and the Cavs asked anything and everything of the veteran swingman when the team needed it most.
LeVert’s responsibilities ranged from being a starting 2-guard focused on scoring, to handling point guard duties (with both the first five and the second unit), to shifting up a position at the 3, to even being a spot-up shooter in some cases.
And on top of all of this, Cleveland would stick him on the opponent’s best player defensively on a nightly basis.
He didn’t have the prettiest or most typical numbers of his career, but he was available and ready to go game after game — and he was Cleveland’s most consistent player in the postseason. This year, though, LeVert may be able to take a little breather.
After Thursday’s practice, Bickerstaff was asked if there would be a more stable role for LeVert.
“That's always the hope. The hope is always to put people in positions where they can maintain a comfortable [knowledge] of what to expect. So that is our hope,” Bickerstaff said. “Last year, the roles differed basically because of what was happening to his teammates [with injuries]. He would step in, he would take a step back. It was just depending on what was going on with the team.
“For me, that's a luxury. Again, I think he has the ability to do it, but our aim is to always make people as comfortable as possible.”
Bickerstaff also reiterated that he has complete trust in LeVert in whatever role he needs to use him in, which includes being a backup point guard if necessary.
Apr 23, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) looks to shoot against New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) during game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Two weeks ago at Cavs Media Day, LeVert commented on being better in his role this upcoming season.
“I think last season, it was a lot of starting and coming off the bench,” LeVert said. “I think this year, we’ll probably have a little bit defined roles. And for me, it’ll be important to lock into a rhythm in that role and just keep the momentum going all season long."
In the healthiest campaign of his career, appearing in 74 games and five playoff contests, LeVert found out what he was capable of.
“Last season was kinda like a rookie season for me, playing so many games,” LeVert said. “I’ve had to go through different types of injuries and things like that. Last season was the first time it was like straight through, so I learned so many things about myself and about taking care of my body and things like that. So I’m looking forward to keeping that momentum going.”
