David Blatt: Knowing, Not Knowing in Cavs Vs Clips

Before firing David Blatt, the Cleveland Cavaliers took care of business against the LA Clippers. Looking back at the game knowing and not knowing that news.

Raise your hand if you watched the Golden State Warriors – Cavs game last week with a weird sense of nausea the whole time. My hand is raised. It’s not because the game was “uber-important” or even because the Cavs played “badly”, it was this feeling deep down inside that tells you “If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”

After Monday’s game I felt like the Cavs just didn’t have the potential to win it all this year.

We don’t have the drive, we don’t have the passion, we don’t have the scoring ability, blah blah blah…etc.

Not Knowing Blatt Would Be Fired

All of those thoughts circled through my head. However, while watching the Clippers’ game, different thoughts started creeping in, and I got excited.

The Cavs were playing better than they had against the Mavs, Spurs, and Warriors. They were improving their game even after getting smacked by the league’s best. Last night gave me a glimmer of hope, and here is why.

Cleveland came in against the Clippers and beat them handily dealing the Clips their 15th loss of the season. The Cavs ball movement was incredible as LeBron & Co. tallied 29 assists, surpassing their current mark of 22 assists per game. The Cavs also passed the eye test.

Knowing Blatt Would Be Fired

Great another win but GM David Griffin didn’t think the team was happy enough after it. The Cavs basically talented their way to the victory but didn’t want to play for the coach that led them to it. So weird to watch the game and know it is Blatt’s final game.

Jan 21, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) passes in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Not Knowing

There were many possessions last night when Cleveland moved the ball from side to side, in and out, and every player got a touch before the ball went in the hoop. That is what the Wine & Gold need, less Kyrie, LeBron, Love isolation calls, and more ball-movement.

LeBron understands this too. LBJ put up a mediocre 22 pts. comparing to his current 25 points a game stat of the season. However, LeBron also dished out 12 assists, destroying his 6.2 mark on the season.

LeBron knows that to win, everyone needs to be involved in the game. The Cavs took a huge step getting everyone involved last night.

Knowing

Welp, it wasn’t because of Blatt that they made the adjustment and kept the ball moving. The players had been asked to do it all season. They finally decided to and it paid off. Seemed like they played their best when they played like Blatt wanted them to.

Not Knowing

Secondly, Kyrie is not “Baaaaaaaack” yet, but he is getting there. His midrange jump shot has looked less than stellar. Whenever I see Kyrie take that midrange jumper coming around a pick-and-roll, I think “That’s HIS shot.”

But this season, after his return from injury, Kyrie has been less than impressive in the jump shooting category. We have to give him time, and if we want to beat the Warriors, we are going to need the return of Kyrie-the-Spurs-Slayer.

Kyrie is slowly coming back to form, and we need him to play well. Last night he had a solid game, and passed the ball well which was the most exciting aspect of his game.

Kyrie is known for his dribbling and shooting abilities, not his passing. But if Kyrie buys into the “everyone involved” strategy, the Cavs will be scary come playoff time.

Knowing

Can Ty Lue get the all around Irving involved? The one who not only dribbles like a magician and shoots with the best of them but gets others involved? How do the Cavs figure out consistency under Lue that they seemingly refused to show under Blatt?

Not Knowing

Kevin Love is my third point. Where in the world did this K-Love come from. He was running all over the court, hitting threes, stealing passes, and grabbing offensive rebounds. In other words,

Love looked a lot different than he has in times past, or maybe much like he did in times past (Minnesota). The hustle was the most impressive part of Love’s game. It honestly looked like he was trying much harder than he normally does.

Kev has posted back to back 17+ pts. and 15+ rebound games. This is how Love must be used for the Cavs to win. Love has one more level in him, and if LeBron can unlock that with this ball-movement and passing, the Cavs will be better than ever.

Knowing

Was it Blatt? Love? LeBron? A combination of the three? How does Love go from an after thought to the game he had against the Clippers? Will that continue or, with Blatt’s spacing offense gone, will Love be gone shortly after? Players thought that Love, not Blatt, was on the move when they were called in for a meeting.

More from King James Gospel

Not Knowing

If you are a Cavs fan that was dejected and depressed by the Warriors game on Monday as I was, the Clippers game on Thursday night was a huge refresher for all of us as well as a glimmer of hope into the future of basketball in The Land.

Knowing

We have no idea how the Cavs will handle the future. How long will the Lue honeymoon last? If the players “buy in” to moving the ball on offense and playing solid, steady defense, isn’t that a sign that it wasn’t Blatt’s fault? Will any big trades go down?