For Pistons' J.B. Bickerstaff, it's the process — not former team — that provides fuel
As coach J.B. Bickerstaff looks to help the Pistons advance beyond the second round, one attribute he learned with the Cavs remains at the forefront.
Detroit — It is uncommon for a coach to have the chance to face their former team and players in the playoffs. For coach J. B.
Bickerstaff, however, this situation has become a reality. The Eastern Conference semifinals between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers will be particularly significant for Bickerstaff, as he coached the Cavaliers for five years before being dismissed in May 2024 . The Cavaliers have several players who Bickerstaff once helped develop, and they have continued to reach new heights under the guidance of coach Kenny Atkinson.
While he will lean upon his knowledge to lead the Pistons, his most important attribute during the second-round series against the Cavaliers will extend beyond the X's and O's of the game. "I spent a lot of time with those guys," Bickerstaff said. "It’s not going to be easy for either one of us, right?
(Cleveland is a) really good basketball team. This isn’t going to be an easy series. It’s going to be a long series.
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