Cavaliers rumors: Cavs could copy Warriors and fire their coach

The Cavaliers could copy the Golden State Warriors and fire their head coach

In 2014, the Golden State Warriors were riding high as a franchise. From 1994 to 2012 they made the playoffs just one time (the “We Believe” Warriors in 2007) but now had been to the playoffs in two consecutive years. Stephen Curry was a star, Klay Thompson looked like a hyper-talented running mate, and the roster had multiple solid pieces that suggested future success at the highest levels.

Their head coach, Mark Jackson, was beloved by the players and had overseen that rise into a playoff team. The Warriors won 51 games that season, Jackson’s third with the franchise, and lose a hard-fought first-round series to the LA Clippers. Jackson had sometimes clashed with other members of the organization, but he also had been instrumental in giving players like Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green the tools to become stars.

That summer, however, the Warriors fired Jackson. That was partly because of a toxic environment of communication that had developed in the organization, but even more so it was because Jackson wasn’t seen as the right coach to take the Warriors to their ceiling. He was a great coach to instill confidence and fundamentals and defensive principles in a young group; he didn’t have the scheme versatility, vision and overall leadership to make them a contender (at least, that was the conclusion of the Warriors).

It was a difficult decision, one that many players had a hard time with. Then Steve Kerr was hired; the former champion as a player instilled championship principles, an offense scheme that maximized their shooting and passing, hired top-notch assistants and the Warriors won 67 games and won the NBA Finals. They would go to six NBA Finals over the next eight seasons, winning four titles.