The Cavaliers’ postseason press conference was a good one last week. GM David Griffin spent time explaining why David Blatt is a good coach. And Blatt spent time explaining that he and LeBron James have a good relationship.
It would seem that if someone is a good coach and two people have a good relationship, explanations are not needed. But such is the dynamic in Cleveland.
There seems to be little doubt that the leading characters in Cleveland are misplaced. Blatt, as he is wont to remind everyone – even if they don’t ask – had a distinguished career as a coach overseas. But he had to adjust to a different game in the NBA, and there is little doubt he made rookie mistakes.
James, meanwhile, has a low tolerance for rookie errors and was not shy about asserting himself when he felt the situation called for it. As a result, his body language was not what is traditionally accepted for a player and he has been subjected to criticism for his heavy-handed ways.
At this point in their careers, it is probably fair to say that James has a greater understanding of the NBA than Blatt. He has 12 years experience; Blatt has one.
James surprised the masses during the Finals when he stated bluntly that he is the best player in the world, but that actually was an understatement. He could have easily said he is also the smartest.
So the real bottom line here is that when a head coach can’t keep up with timeouts in a playoff game and makes a strategic move in the pivotal fifth game of the NBA Finals by benching a player who had 28 points and 10 rebounds in the previous game, that coach needs help.
David Blatt has benefited from the presence of LeBron James, not only on the court, but also in the decision-making process.
It’s always been a compliment to say a smart player is “like a coach on the floor” but when he starts acting like it, it’s a source of discomfort for many.
To me, James has a throwback role with Blatt and in another era, Blatt might have been his assistant.
In the first 34 NBA seasons, it was not uncommon for teams to have player-coaches. In fact, it was far more prevalent than I thought.
Most longtime fans and younger basketball historians know that Bill Russell was a player-coach with the Celtics, winning two championships in three years, largely because Russell the coach had Russell the player on his team.
Others were successful, most notably Lenny Wilkens, who is one of just four men to make the Hall of Fame as a player and a coach.
But player-coaches were not uncommon. From 1946-47 to 1978-79, there were 40 men who were player-coaches. Many were only interim coaches. Twenty-eight served in the dual role less than one season and five of them for fewer than 10 games.
Obviously all had special traits. Twelve of them made the Hall of Fame as players and three made it as coaches. It’s safe to say that as a group, these guys had superior basketball intellect.
Transport James back to that era – at least after Russell broke the color barrier and became the first black NBA head coach in 1966 – and it’s easy to see James as a player-coach.
But that was then, in an era where the NBA was so simple that teams seldom had even one assistant.
Blatt has six.
James has a relationship with the Cavaliers that has rarely, if ever, existed between a player, a team and an area. He grew up in the Cleveland area, became a Cav when the team was lucky enough to win the lottery, was frustrated by the organization and went to Miami to win titles, then returned home to become the hero who would conquer.
Like all great players, James knows his value and to the Cleveland area and franchise; it is infinite. He also knows that if he had announced he was returning to Cleveland earlier than July 11 last year, it is unlikely Blatt would have been hired three weeks earlier.
It is one job to gain experience by coaching a young team led by Kyrie Irving and No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins, but a far more complicated job and much greater challenge to coach a team that is expected to win the NBA title with James.
I must admit, however, that Blatt has the right idea – at least partially – on handling the discomfort of his situation. At the press conference Thursday, Black said it is “a special thing to have the opportunity to work with LeBron on a daily basis. . . . It’s been a great pleasure and a great honor to work with a player of his magnitude, and to work with someone who is so committed to helping this organization reach its goals, and is so committed to helping his teammates make it to the highest level. And I can just tell you it’s been a fantastic experience, and I’m looking forward to continuing it.”
Good job. Nothing like buttering up to the boss. And LeBron is also looking forward to continuing the relationship because if Blatt ever tires of it, he will undoubtedly be replaced. Sheridan has Tyronn Lue as the frontrunner.
The reality in Cleveland right now is that LeBron, with his unique relationship with Cleveland and the Cavs, is, in fact, the player-coach of the team. No doubt he could be a little more subtle about it, since he does not formally have the title. But in the heat of the game, when a wrong decision is made, there is little time to get it right and emotions are high anyway.
David Blatt should enjoy the ride while it lasts. And he should pay attention. He may learn a thing to two.
Jan Hubbard has written about basketball since 1976 and worked in the NBA league office for eight years between media stints. Follow him on Twitter at @whyhub.
he allready learned a lot from lebron and other players , as well as his coaching stuff. he keeps learning for 20 years now and adjusting accordingly. thats why he is a basketball genius and an adaptble cooach. if you half his resome as a coach as a reporter maybe you could admit you made a mistake critisizing him with no real base. but i guess you are another reporter wannabe.and just keep the drama going like an old talkative lady. do disrespect to the ladies
With LBJ as a player-coach cavs would not pass Atlanta in four, Good to have a real coach in the team. Will you write about the timeout that could have been forever?
Blatt brought a crippling team to game 6 of the finals, trumping Hawks and Chicago enroute. The article’s a joke.
Ridiculous article. All of you media people know it all. Countless coaches have spoken in the priase of Blatt’s abilities. He’s been nothing but class througout the year. He, yes, he – if he is to be blemished for mistakes, he should also reap the success – took a team to the NBA finals with brilliant coaching schemes and without the team’s arguably 3/4 most important players.
You keep looking down on the guy as if his credentials merit nothing. Imagine if your writing career was completely disregarded if you were to shift a media, and despite generating great success on the new outlet.
This craziness makes me think it was all a set up by LeBron’s agency and the biased ESPN crew to get Mark Jackson on a winning pedegree.
Totally unfair to Blatt.
Parade of silliness.
One of stupid articles.
Change your profession.
Maybe clean-manager or something.
Both with Sheridan