^ The two positions he never mastered were scape goat and closer. Because if you close and fail you are ultimately the scape goat. Does Lebron really want Mark Jackson? ( I think my sarcasm detectors broken), I liked what he did as a motivator for the Warriors, but his appeal would seem to be letting Lebron coach and being an NBA vet.
He told the media last night that Kevin Love isn't a max player yet. I don't think he is wrong, but he isn't right in telling the media that. I can't seeing him sticking longer than a year. If this season keeps going where it's heading (Down in flames), it will be Bow to the King 2.0 and the FO will do anything and everything to keep Lebron happy.
He might have meant it literally as in Kevin Love isn't making max money right now so he's not a max player. Not sure though. I don't know the context. Lol.
He's right though. Max players should show greatness in at least two areas of the game and development in the others or AT LEAST be young enough to continue developing the areas they're weak at. Right now Love has been exposed as a bad defender. He's an above-average offensive player and a good rebounder, but a hole defensively and not showing much sign of improving. If I were Cleveland I'd have to give him the max, but everywhere else I'd be a little more hesitant. Unless of course you're LA or NY and you just need talent no matter what.
Love is making max for him now though. He's in the last year of the max deal he signed with Minny. Reporter asked why the Cavs are struggling with two max players on the roster... To which he responded with, "Kevin isn't a max player yet."
And if Cleveland is not willing to give him the max, he'll leave. Chances are Blatt will be gone, though, by the send of the season.
This seems really poor media savvy by Blatt. He had basically one question to answer (why are the Cavs struggling) but didn't know the exact form. So what did he do, slapped one his top 3 players in the face (slapped him with the truth but that is not the point). I will watch the video, but from the quotes it just sounds defensive like he is tired of taking the blame and he is just over the questions of his authority and ability (which ist the implication of these questions). My answer would have been "The season starts tomorrow." - just kidding. But honestly coaches have to answer to media but aren't accountable to them. If he just said he had faith in Irving and Love and the team including the new additions, and that it is important to not let a losing streak derail a whole season. Nobody is working harder than the Max players on the roster and champions show resolve not panic. Total B.S I know but at least it vaguely answers the question rather than manufacturing the perfect headline for the media. He should take a page out of Pop's media book if not his coaching book.
by all accounts, blatt is a great x's and o's guy--good enough that top nba coaches went to watch him coach in Russia. and you can't have the success he's had without being able to develop some rapport with players. in other words...I'm not so sure the problem is blatt. one problem is that LeBron hasn't been LeBron. the other problem was the varejao injury, imo. he's the quintessential glue guy. they lack that now. finally, they have a bunch of guys who don't know how to win yet. I don't think the coach--or even the team, really--should be judged until the season is over. I didn't think they'd come out of the gates on fire.
He was always the sacrificial lamb for the Cavs a lot like Spoelstra. If the Cavs do great then it is going to be Lebron did it. If the Cavs do bad it is the "young" coach who couldn't do it.
Definitely wasn't the same as the shoulder bump, but the underlying problem isn't the contact it's the attitude. This dude thinks he's better than, more important than, and more authoritative than his coach. I mean he's right, but that's the problem. He has too much power. Popovich and P-Jax wouldn't stand for this kind of nonsense. Riley and Thibodeau wouldn't have either. Idon't even think Byron would let that slide (unless it was Kobe). I don't care if the excuse is real and LeBron didn't want his coach picking up a foul. To push another man out of the conversation when he's making a point is unacceptable. Especially when that person is supposed to be your coach! It's like he's saying,"Hey kid go sit down over there and let me handle this." Ridiculous. LeBron should be getting criticized for this and if I were the Cavs I'd fire Blatt for not having more control of the situation.
Read my mind. Can you imagine anybody doing that to Phil or Pop? I can't even imagine someone doing that to Byron. Kobe wouldn't be so disrespectful, and even if Byron may not be the best coach, he at least is a charismatic leader of the team. The players listen to him and wouldn't disrespect him like that.
Never said it was. I said it was similar in that Lebron is physically contacting a coach in a way most players do not.
Exactly. I see what media folks mean when they say Byron has the "head coaching aura" so to speak. He just carries himself well and commands respect as a person and a leader. No he's not perfect, but he sure wouldn't stand for that. Heck I don't think it'd cross a player's mind to just straight up push Byron away like that. Maybe a gentle nudge or a hug-and-walk-away like most NBA guys do, but certainly not a "get out of here the grown-ups are talking" push. Just disrespectful and really unacceptable regardless of the intent.
