John Beilein Mulling Stepping Down As The Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach After 54 Games

By Jordan Long

The Cleveland Cavaliers will return from the All-Star break on Friday when they take on the Washington Wizards.  They may do it without Head Coach John Beilein who is mulling the possibility of stepping down.

                Beilein was hired by Cleveland on May 13, 2019, replacing Tyronn Lue.  Lue lasted only 6 games into the 2018-2019 season. Cleveland at the time was 0-6.  Lue’s overall record during his 4 years in Cleveland was 128-83 with 3 trips to the NBA Finals and one championship. Cleveland went with Larry Drew as the Interim Head Coach, but finished 19-57. Drew didn’t turn the Cavs around and they hired who they thought was the best candidate in Beilein.

                Beilein had never coached in the NBA.  His only experience was in the college game for 27 years from 1992 to 2019 coaching 4 schools, Canisius College, the University of Richmond,  West Virginia University, and the University of Michigan.   His teams went to the NCAA tournament)  13 times and advanced to the Final Four twice.  West Virginia won the NIT (National Invitation Tournament) in 2007 when they beat Clemson 78-73.  Cleveland hoped he was the right man for the job. 

                Beilein’s coaching style has not worked in the NBA.  Cleveland is one of the worst teams in the NBA this season at 14-40, last in the Eastern Conference and 2^nd to last in the whole NBA.  The only franchise below them in the NBA standings is the Golden State Warriors who are 12-43.

                On offense, Cleveland is scoring points at 106.1 per game but that is 27^th in the NBA.  They can’t rebound the ball on the offensive and defensive side averaging 44.4 rebounds per game, 20^th in the NBA.  On defense, teams are scoring at will allowing 115 points per game, 25^th in the NBA.  It seems like Beilein can’t make in-game adjustments to help his team win games. 

                The NBA game is not where Beilein belongs.  He should go back to college where he was more successful.  Beilein will decide in the next 24 to 48 hours what he wants to do.  He may pick to stay for the rest of the year.   That might be the best option for him.  The players are counting on him to at least finish up the last 28 games of the year.  Even if they end poorly, at least they have a shot to earn a top 3 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery.  Beilein could then bolt and be hired in the college game where he is more comfortable. Stepping down during the middle of the season would prove he is quitting on the team.