David Blatt FIRED!

[Jeffx]

Holy sh*t....didn't see this coming.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2335 ... d-reaction

[I Hate Mondays]

What the fuck ? I really feel sorry for him.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported, "LeBron James was informed of the decision to fire David Blatt today" and "was not consulted" on the decision.

I don't believe that one second.

[PeacemanNOT]

I do believe that, where in the past year has there been any conflict between Blatt and Lebron?

[NovU]

Blatt was an international coach with some level of success. He had no NBA coaching experience at all prior to this gig. We don't know how much positive and negative he had on the team but if the changes are going to come within, changing a coach is probably not a bad starting point. As big things are expected from LBJ's team, this is a sign of more changes to come in order to put themselves in a better position to finally win that ring in the city of Cleveland.

[I Hate Mondays]

I do believe that, where in the past year has there been any conflict between Blatt and Lebron?

LBJ was informed that Blatt was going to be fired before anyone else, I can bet on it. That whole organisation doesn't take a piss without LBJ knowing it. I am not saying he had anything to do with the decision, I am just saying he knew from the first second.

So, are the Cavs going to stick with this new head coach until next season ?

[mp3]

What the fuck ? I really feel sorry for him.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported, "LeBron James was informed of the decision to fire David Blatt today" and "was not consulted" on the decision.

I don't believe that one second.

At first glance I thought that read "LeBron informs management" of Blatt firing lol

Think this may be the first time that the leading team in the east fires it's coach after 1 bad loss.

I don't for a second believe LeBron had nothing to do with this, everyone knows he liked Lue as a coach more.

[PeacemanNOT]

He just signed a 9 million dollar 3 year deal... so I don't think he's going anywhere unless he runs the team into the ground.

[I Hate Mondays]

He just signed a 9 million dollar 3 year deal... so I don't think he's going anywhere unless he runs the team into the ground.

He has the respect of the locker room, many would say he had it going better than Blatt. But I see him getting fired imo if things go south. How many fired Cavs coaches that are still getting paid are there now, like 3 ?

[Andrew]

Wow, a very unexpected move there. The Cavs have had some bad losses, but they've also won 11 of their past 13 games, and sit atop the Eastern Conference. Surely, a move like this is unprecedented; at least, I can't remember off the top of my head when a head coach got the axe with their team performing this well. Even if the Cavs aren't quite playing up to expectations, this is the kind of change a lottery-bound team makes, not a Conference leader.

That's not to say it'll turn out to be a bad decision. Maybe it will, and maybe it won't. The timing and recent record make it highly unusual though, to say the very least.

[Andrew]

Some insight from Brendan Haywood, who spent his final year under Blatt last season.

[Kevin]

A sophomore coach afraid of the best player in the planet? Understandable.

[Phil89]

Fire a coach after he takes them to the finals and pushes the insanely good Warriors to 6 games with half his team missing through injury and then has them easily out in front of the eastern conference this year? And then to replace him with someone who has zero coaching experience?

Terrible decision by the Cavs.

[Andrew]

Lue's been an assistant coach in the league since 2009, so I wouldn't say he has zero experience. Of course, Steve Kerr had zero experience before taking the Warriors' job, and that turned out alright. Everyone's new to the job, at some point.

It's an odd and I believe pretty much unprecedented decision, but not necessarily a terrible one, if what Haywood says is true. If Blatt is freezing up in key moments, coddling LeBron and losing the respect of his players, then even if they have been winning games as of late, the writing was on the wall.

[NovU]

And it's not like Blatt had all perect qualifications either. He had a zero NBA coaching experience and practically came into league as a rookie to coach a team with LBJ. Despite being the top dog in East, they have been semi disappointing. Watched Cavs and Warriors rematch a week ago? Ouch. The Cavs are not being idle and is sensing danger of not making most out of LBJ's last legs. People are acting out like Blatt is some sort of Zen master which he clearly isnt. For the desperate Cavs trying to capitalize on having the best player in the league, firing Blatt isn't a major move but only the beginning of bigger things to come imho.

[Jeffx]

I'm with NovU, that ass-whippin' by the Warriors set off alarm bells in the Cavs' front office.

Does anyone besides me feel the Cavs would have been better off long term with Wiggins?

[[Q]]

I think the Cavs overestimated the impact that Love would have at the time. I remember thinking it was crazy to trade Wiggins without him even playing a game to see how he would fit in. Either way, Bennett would've probably still sucked so they'd still have problems finding a decent big man

Interesting read by Woj on the firing: Lebron leaves Miami for Cleveland where he knows he will have control over the franchise (something Riley would never allow). Mark Jackson sold out to James's agency to be his pick for coach. Cavs refuse to hire Jackson knowing all of the baggage he comes with. James continues to undermine Blatt behind the scenes. Blatt gets fired and Lue gets hired as a compromise.

[Andrew]

Bennett would've continued to be a disappointment, but they still would've had Tristan Thompson. I guess we'll never know if they'd have been better off keeping Wiggins, but he is a player that I think a lot of people were too quick to write off. In terms of the positions they play and where they're currently at as far as being established players, I don't think taking a chance on Love was a bad move. Worth the risk.

Definitely an interesting read from Woj (which you can find here, if you haven't seen it yet). They're rather damning allegations and they certainly paint Blatt as the victim of LeBron's peoples' machinations to control things behind the scenes. Even if that's true, though, it doesn't necessarily invalidate the criticism of his coaching style and abilities.

[Sauru]

Does anyone besides me feel the Cavs would have been better off long term with Wiggins?

i have said this from day one and stated how dumb of a trade it was by the cavs

[Chicago1]

He should coach the T-Wolves now imo, rosters got a lot of European background and he'll be a great fit there..

[iamSamke]

Agree with Chicago1
Either Wolves (or even Denver, they got a lot of European players) or back to Euroleague.

[NovU]

Wiggins-Love deal isn't working out for the Cavs? Where did you guys get that idea? The Cavs are a better team with him than not and they successfully retained Kevin Love.

It's hard to imagine current Wiggins could help out LBJ anyways. Wiggins today is a bad player. He's one-dimensional, mainly a scorer. But that's with below average efficiency. That's only stats? Ok, then which superb skillset does he possess at the moment that possibly could help out the Cavs? He does nothing well. he plays perimeter but he has limited range thus a problem in spacing. He's an under average rebounder, and a playmaker. Neither is he good at stealing and blocking.

Wiggins sounds like a 20 year old project which LBJ on last legs doesn't need.

[mp3]

It shouldn't be about LeBron it should be about CLEVELAND and there future.

[NovU]

Are you suggesting they should pass on their best shot at championship and instead develop young talent. I think even the best of Hinkieologists would disagree to that.

When you have the best player in the world, future is now.

[mp3]

Normally id would say if you have a chance to win now then go for it but because it's LeBron who I have always thought has to much pulling power and the fact that Wiggins was the number one pick so iam not so much of a fan of it.

Also when you look at what Melo and KP have done in taking strides for the future I have to question the "win now" formula as they haven't won jack yet.

[Jeffx]

Wiggins-Love deal isn't working out for the Cavs? Where did you guys get that idea? The Cavs are a better team with him than not and they successfully retained Kevin Love.

It's hard to imagine current Wiggins could help out LBJ anyways. Wiggins today is a bad player. He's one-dimensional, mainly a scorer. But that's with below average efficiency. That's only stats? Ok, then which superb skillset does he possess at the moment that possibly could help out the Cavs? He does nothing well. he plays perimeter but he has limited range thus a problem in spacing. He's an under average rebounder, and a playmaker. Neither is he good at stealing and blocking.

Wiggins sounds like a 20 year old project which LBJ on last legs doesn't need.

I just don't feel the Cavs are utilizing Love's skills to the fullest.