Why J.B. Bickerstaff deserved Coach of the Year over Kenny Atkinson

Kudos to Atkinson, because he had a great season in Cleveland. The Cavaliers went 64-18, which was the best record in the East, and they're still in the running for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. As it stands, they're down 0-1 in their East Semifinals seven-game series with the Indiana Pacers.

Still, there's absolutely a case to be made that Bickerstaff got robbed. 

He helped the Pistons triple their win total from 2023-24, which is something that has never happened in NBA history. Perhaps even more important for Detroit long term, though, is that he found a way to squeeze the most out of the young players that are part of the Pistons' core.

Cade Cunningham went from a young player with untapped potential for greatness to an All-Star. Jalen Duren, by the end of the season and certainly in the playoffs, showed the type of development that would suggest he could become a star as well. Ausar Thompson flashed the type of chops that suggest he could be a future defensive player of the year and Jaden Ivey looked like a rising star himself before he was injured and lost for the season.

All those players were on the team last season under Williams, but he wasn't able to squeeze anything out of them. Under Bickerstaff, though, the Pistons look like they could be building a legitimate contender.

Depending on what new general manager Trajan Langdon does this offseason, the Pistons could be a move or two away from really competing in the East.

There's a ton of credit to go around for Detroit's incredible turnaround, but ultimately, Bickerstaff was the main reason why.

“JB is a gift to us. Okay, I’ll just say that,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said last week, according to Kory Woods mlive. 

He may not have won Coach of the Year, but Bickerstaff quickly became the gift that keeps on giving for the Pistons.