The Cleveland Cavaliers easily had the best off-season this year, adding LeBron James and Kevin Love to go a long with star point guard Kyrie Irving. LeBron left Miami to form a new "super team" and go after another championship. The Cavaliers then signed David Blatt from Russia to be their next head coach, a very interesting move. I didn't get the signing at the time because I thought they needed a coach who has coached in the NBA before to help mesh the team together. There are a lot of new players on the Cavaliers this year and it has shown as their chemistry has been off. The Cavaliers are now only 18-12, fifth in the East, coming off a 23 point loss to a 7-23 Detroit team. Cleveland didn't have Irving but still should have beaten Detroit, or at least not been blown out. The question has started to rise about David Blatt's future now and whether or not he will last the full season with Cleveland. We're only 30 games into the season and already having discussions about firing your first year head coach is a terrible sign. To go along with that, LeBron said he would consider opting out of his contract after this year on the intent of making the "appropriate business decision". Cleveland has looked awful this year and in my opinion wouldn't make it out of the first round if the playoffs started today. I still think their chemistry will eventually click and they will become the "super team" everyone imagined at the beginning of the year. But until then Blatt is already on the hot seat and LeBron James is considering leaving Cleveland once again.
David Blatt has coached since 1993 overseas and has won multiple Coach of the Year awards and championships. I think he has a very good offensive mind and would fit in well with a team looking at the future. I don't get why teams hire an inexperienced coach when they bring in a bunch of players the previous off-season and are trying to win a championship. I think the Cavs should have hired someone who has coached in the NBA and knows some of the players so it is easier for them to mesh. LeBron even told reporters, "I don't know him fully. He doesn't know me fully. He doesn't know any of the guys fully and that's to be expected. It's our first year together. But he has our attention." It takes time to learn new teammates, coaches and a system. It may even take over a year, something David Blatt might not have. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has proven in the past that he isn't afraid of making coaching changes. He let Mike Brown go this past May to hire David Blatt, even though he had 3 guaranteed years on his contract still. I think Brown would have been a better fit for this team because he has coached two of their superstars, Irving and James, in the past. I'm not saying this team would be the #1 team in the East right now but I do think they would be farther a long the process of meshing with each other. Irving chimed in about Blatt and their problems as well, "The thing about it is we can't fault a first-year coach with getting to learn who everyone is. It's a process and just like assembling this team together, every single day we're all developing great relationships and learning how to communicate with one another." It seems like all the players are on board with Blatt as their head coach but I still think they need to get Dan Gilbert on board. Gilbert had great teams when LeBron was first in Cleveland but they still never won a championship and Gilbert is itching to get one. It seems like he is making quick decisions and not letting things play out. I think he needs to trust what they are doing and giving it more time. I don't think all the blame should go on Blatt. Yes the Cavaliers have not lived up to expectations but they are still learning to play with each other and for a new coach. Remember it took the Heat 2 years to win their first title with LeBron. Some of the blame should go on Blatt but if he isn't given at least the year then I don't get why they hired him in the first place. I have never been a fan of Dan Gilbert and I could see him letting Blatt go after 50 games. Having rumors about firing your first year head coach is the last thing you want on a struggling team. There is still a ton of time left to get better and the Cavs are going to make the playoffs in the East. I wouldn't worry too much about this team until we get late into the season. Gilbert just needs to trust Blatt and let everything play out.
It's LeBron James 30th birthday today but that's not the biggest news about him. LeBron has made some interesting comments these past couple of days following their 23 point loss to Detroit. LeBron first said that he was happy with David Blatt at the helm but then didn't do a good job backing it up after Monday's practice. A reporter asked LeBron about Blatt and he responded with, "Yeah, he's our coach, I mean, what other coach do we have?" For being a "supporter" of your coach this was a very odd statement. It seems like Blatt is being forced on James and he isn't happy about it. This statement makes me wonder how much LeBron actually supported the David Blatt signing. LeBron James is the best player in the league and can opt out of his 2 year contract after this year. The Cavaliers want to make sure he sticks around for another year and if that means a new coach they wouldn't hesitate on getting a new one. It may seem crazy for LeBron to leave but it's not out of question. Chris Haynes of the 'Northeast Ohio Media Group' has said that LeBron is intent on making the appropriate business decision at the end of the year. If LeBron left and went to another "super team" his reputation for the rest of his career would be ruined and he would never be welcomed back to Cleveland. The Cavaliers have said multiple times that they are not comfortable with James having the ability to leave so soon, now we see why. The reason James only signed a two year contract was because he wanted to maximize his earnings and have the opportunity to sign with another team in the near future. I have always liked LeBron and understood why he went to Miami. Times have changed and guys are teaming up rather than having a rivalry like Jordan and Magic had. I hope James doesn't leave for another team because everyone would turn on him as he would truly just be joining "super teams" to chase championships and get money. LeBron is a 12 year vet and has just turned 30. People are finally starting to like him again but that could quickly change if he leaves Cleveland again for another "super team". If he leaves then he will be one of the most hated players for the rest of his career and it would destroy his legacy. He still has 3-4 more years as one of the best players before he starts to decline, in my opinion, then a couple more of still being a very good player. He is the best player since Michael Jordan and I would hate to have him not get as much credit and respect once he retires because he started chasing championships rather than staying where he was and trying to build a team up to a championship level. The Cleveland Cavaliers situation has been one of the most intriguing topics since the off-season and it's starting to heat up even more.
David Blatt has coached since 1993 overseas and has won multiple Coach of the Year awards and championships. I think he has a very good offensive mind and would fit in well with a team looking at the future. I don't get why teams hire an inexperienced coach when they bring in a bunch of players the previous off-season and are trying to win a championship. I think the Cavs should have hired someone who has coached in the NBA and knows some of the players so it is easier for them to mesh. LeBron even told reporters, "I don't know him fully. He doesn't know me fully. He doesn't know any of the guys fully and that's to be expected. It's our first year together. But he has our attention." It takes time to learn new teammates, coaches and a system. It may even take over a year, something David Blatt might not have. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has proven in the past that he isn't afraid of making coaching changes. He let Mike Brown go this past May to hire David Blatt, even though he had 3 guaranteed years on his contract still. I think Brown would have been a better fit for this team because he has coached two of their superstars, Irving and James, in the past. I'm not saying this team would be the #1 team in the East right now but I do think they would be farther a long the process of meshing with each other. Irving chimed in about Blatt and their problems as well, "The thing about it is we can't fault a first-year coach with getting to learn who everyone is. It's a process and just like assembling this team together, every single day we're all developing great relationships and learning how to communicate with one another." It seems like all the players are on board with Blatt as their head coach but I still think they need to get Dan Gilbert on board. Gilbert had great teams when LeBron was first in Cleveland but they still never won a championship and Gilbert is itching to get one. It seems like he is making quick decisions and not letting things play out. I think he needs to trust what they are doing and giving it more time. I don't think all the blame should go on Blatt. Yes the Cavaliers have not lived up to expectations but they are still learning to play with each other and for a new coach. Remember it took the Heat 2 years to win their first title with LeBron. Some of the blame should go on Blatt but if he isn't given at least the year then I don't get why they hired him in the first place. I have never been a fan of Dan Gilbert and I could see him letting Blatt go after 50 games. Having rumors about firing your first year head coach is the last thing you want on a struggling team. There is still a ton of time left to get better and the Cavs are going to make the playoffs in the East. I wouldn't worry too much about this team until we get late into the season. Gilbert just needs to trust Blatt and let everything play out.
It's LeBron James 30th birthday today but that's not the biggest news about him. LeBron has made some interesting comments these past couple of days following their 23 point loss to Detroit. LeBron first said that he was happy with David Blatt at the helm but then didn't do a good job backing it up after Monday's practice. A reporter asked LeBron about Blatt and he responded with, "Yeah, he's our coach, I mean, what other coach do we have?" For being a "supporter" of your coach this was a very odd statement. It seems like Blatt is being forced on James and he isn't happy about it. This statement makes me wonder how much LeBron actually supported the David Blatt signing. LeBron James is the best player in the league and can opt out of his 2 year contract after this year. The Cavaliers want to make sure he sticks around for another year and if that means a new coach they wouldn't hesitate on getting a new one. It may seem crazy for LeBron to leave but it's not out of question. Chris Haynes of the 'Northeast Ohio Media Group' has said that LeBron is intent on making the appropriate business decision at the end of the year. If LeBron left and went to another "super team" his reputation for the rest of his career would be ruined and he would never be welcomed back to Cleveland. The Cavaliers have said multiple times that they are not comfortable with James having the ability to leave so soon, now we see why. The reason James only signed a two year contract was because he wanted to maximize his earnings and have the opportunity to sign with another team in the near future. I have always liked LeBron and understood why he went to Miami. Times have changed and guys are teaming up rather than having a rivalry like Jordan and Magic had. I hope James doesn't leave for another team because everyone would turn on him as he would truly just be joining "super teams" to chase championships and get money. LeBron is a 12 year vet and has just turned 30. People are finally starting to like him again but that could quickly change if he leaves Cleveland again for another "super team". If he leaves then he will be one of the most hated players for the rest of his career and it would destroy his legacy. He still has 3-4 more years as one of the best players before he starts to decline, in my opinion, then a couple more of still being a very good player. He is the best player since Michael Jordan and I would hate to have him not get as much credit and respect once he retires because he started chasing championships rather than staying where he was and trying to build a team up to a championship level. The Cleveland Cavaliers situation has been one of the most intriguing topics since the off-season and it's starting to heat up even more.
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