10:40 AM
According to sources, J.B. Bickerstaff has agreed on a long-term extension that will keep him in his job for the next seven years.
Bickerstaff and the general manager have worked together to rebuild the team around a young core that includes guard Darius Garland and big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Bickerstaff has led the Cavaliers to a 19-13 start and fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland won six games in a row from December 8-18 by an average margin of 21.5 points.
Golden State and Phoenix are the only two teams in the league that don't rank in the top three in defensive efficiency. Cleveland was 25th a year ago.
Bickerstaff took over the Cleveland job midway through the 2020 season, after taking over in Houston and Memphis as interim coaches.
The team won just 19 games in the season. The Cleveland Indians have improved their win percentage points the most in the NBA this season.
