J.B. Bickerstaff | Cavs at Grizzlies Post Game | 2.1.2024
Coach nothing really felt easy with with with this one right but how did you I guess overcome kind of the scrappiness that Memphis was playing with uh I mean we talked about a pregame you know what I mean like give them a ton of credit that’s who they are no matter who’s on
The floor for them um you know they play with that competitive spirit and they keep fighting keep coming um but again I thought our guys did a great job of just showing resolve um and you know obviously we were much better in the second half um you our defense is what
Makes us and we held them to 22 points 21 points um and that’s what obviously gave us you know the advantage and the ability to go uh get the win but again we we’ve got the ability um you know so even when things aren’t as pretty as we
Would like we know we can go there and then we got guys that can create and come up with buckets when we need them it felt like you guys were kind of searching for a spark too in that second half how did Caris help provide that I
Mean that’s that’s what he does you know I mean he’s a he’s a guy who can just get it going uh and can contribute on both ends you know he gets steeve he gos pushes in transition offensively he pushes he attacks he makes plays happen uh and it seemed like he just continues
To make timely shots um you know when we need him most he’s there in the moment and makes the big ones Donovan officially selected as the All-Star Reserve tonight before the game can you just take a moment to reflect on how all the work that a guy like that puts in
Can culminate to you know this moment of fifth consecutive Allstar I mean he he’s a superstar and I don’t think there’s any question uh about that um you know if in my opinion if it wasn’t you know if it wasn’t a popularity contest he should be a starter um you know that’s
Not a knock on the other guys that are because obviously they’re Elite and there’s only five of those spots but uh you know you’re hardpressed to find a guy um positionally who plays the game better than Donovan does um and how important he is to us all over the floor
You know it’s not just the ability to create and carry a game but you know like we’ve talked about his ability to make his team teammates better have empathy for his teammates understanding when they need the ball how to create for them U and to lead them so um you
Know he’s a superstar um and he continues to prove it every night coach any update on Jarett and how do you think uh your other guys did especially G Jones filling in without him and Evan tonight I thought he did a really good job I mean I think he was
Great defensively you know had some really big blocks for us uh took a challenge you know and garden jiren Jackson uh which isn’t easy um but I thought he did a really good job filling in in those minutes and I don’t have an update on uh Jarry yet for you and then
Uh you mentioned earlier but how what happened in that third quarter where you really turned up the defense I mean that was it it was a decision that was made um you know again you play last night you travel you know you’re trying to kind of figure out you know uh your wits
A little bit um and just try to find the rhythm of the game and you know what we did was found the rhythm of the game for for us on the defensive end of the floor and allow that to spark our offense create easy opportunities for us but uh
You know this game is going to be a grind out when you play the Grizzlies you know what I mean like they slow the game down they’re big they’re physical uh they’re active um so they’re going to make it a you know a grimy game and you
Just got to figure out you know your how and tonight our defense was our how and then uh DG second night of back toback how do you think you look I thought it was good again um you know it’s it’s tough those limited minutes for a guy
Who’s used to playing uh in bulk trying to figure out and pick your spots but I thought he was a big part of our pushing at um you know fourth quarter to get us kind of settled you know you hate have to kind of take him out at that moment
But um you know I thought he did a great job kind of finding his footing and helping us push the lead thank you
Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff spoke to the media following a 108-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on February 1, 2024 at FedEx Forum.
