The Cleveland Cavaliers have been dealing with rumors about the future of David Blatt for the past couple weeks. Marc Stein alone has posted two articles in a week span about Blatt’s connection with the team. First was about a divide between the coach and players:
"The Cavs would prefer not to be forced into evaluating their new coach just 30 games into Blatt’s NBA career, cognizant that the job has quickly evolved into a much different one — after LeBron James stunningly decided in July to return to his home-state team in free agency — than it was when Blatt was hired from Israeli power Maccabi Tel Aviv in June with no NBA experience.But the Cavs’ effort level, especially defensively, is eroding noticeably, raising the volume of questions about just how much the locker room is listening to the 55-year-old Boston native, who has enjoyed tremendous international success but began this season as a relative unknown to NBA players."
Then on New Year’s he noted that the Cavs were at a “Boiling Point:”
"The Cleveland Cavaliers just should have waited.Dan Gilbert never should have hired a coach in late June if he thought he had even the faintest hope of luring LeBron James back to his home-state Cavs in July.But Gilbert didn’t wait.The Cavs’ impulsive owner rushed out to hire David Blatt to keep him away from Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors, soon discovered he had more hope for burying hatchets with James than anyone in Ohio had ever dreamed, and now finds himself staring at two rather unappealing options … provided, of course, that Gilbert is prepared to take a proactive role in preventing LeBron’s less-than-storybook homecoming season from careening even further out of control."
The second one was written strongly, opening with a definitive statement that the Cavs should have waited and not hired David Blatt. He blames Dan Gilbert, which seems to minimize David Griffin being the one who decided to hire Blatt.
The general narrative about Blatt continued with belief that LeBron James has not bought into Coach Blatt and that he has started to ignore the coach. The story continued that James, and other players, listen to assistant coach Tyronn Lue instead of Blatt.
Today before the Cavaliers game with the Dallas Mavericks, GM David Griffin addressed the issues and narrative that have surrounded David Blatt. He did so strongly:
David Griffin says "this narrative of our coaching situation is totally ridiculous." He says David Blatt is the coach, will be the coach.
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) January 4, 2015
#Cavs GM David Griffin on David Blatt's status with the team: "That narrative is done. No change is being made, period."
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 4, 2015
Dec 15, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Warren Buffett and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert watch the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs beat the Hornets 97-88. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Griffin has been the king of press conferences, always saying the right thing. Today he got out in front of a few things, including the idea that Blatt needed a vote of confidence. Often when you read a vote of confidence it is lead by “the dreaded” because when a GM or owner comes out in support of their coach it soon is followed with their firing.
Griffin made it clear that this is not happening. Instead he blames the narrative of the media looking for stories that do not exist. He even mentioned how many of LeBron’s quotes were taken out of context to fit the narrative.
So what do we make of Griffin’s statements? We have mentioned how in James’ first year in Miami that Pat Riley made it clear, behind the scenes and in front of cameras, that Erik Spoelstra was going to be the coach. The Heat, with James and Chris Bosh new to the team, were going to have to fall in line because Spo was going to be the coach.
Griffin is not Riley. He doesn’t have the cache, he doesn’t hold ultimate power in the organization and he doesn’t have the experience that Riley does.
Dan Gilbert and his willingness to step in and make decisions over his basketball people is the ultimate wild card. If Gilbert gets information that LeBron wants a different coach or things won’t go well, it is likely that David Blatt will be gone.
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That is the problem in dealing with Griffin’s statements. Everyone; LeBron, Griffin, Blatt and the rest of the organization, knows that David Griffin does not run the Cavs. Dan Gilbert has shown for years that whatever he thinks is the right decision he will make it, he is the Pat Riley of the Cavs (without the basketball experience, knowledge and respect.)
David Blatt, David Griffin and every other member of the Cavalier organization, with the exception of (in order) LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, are never safe with owner Dan Gilbert.
Whether Griffin or Blatt are given enough time to make things work, to institute their systems, could define what happens, both short and long term, with this Cavaliers team.
What do you think of David Griffin’s “vote of confidence” given to David Blatt?
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