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David Blatt says he will ‘absolutely’ return as Cavaliers coach
He responds to new talk of fractured relationship with LeBron James
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Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports 7:24 p.m. EDT June 18, 2015
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David Blatt said he looks forward to returning as the Cavaliers coach next year despite new questions about his relationship with LeBron James.(Photo: Tony Dejak, AP)
Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt said he “absolutely” will be back with the team next season and can’t wait for the 2015-16 season to begin.
“To be able to hit the ground running next year with all or most of our roster intact will be just an enormous advantage,” Blatt said at a news conference Thursday.
Blatt comments came shortly after ESPN’s Marc Stein published a story saying James undercut Blatt during the NBA Finals by “calling timeouts and making substitutions … openly barking at Blatt after decisions he didn’t like … huddling frequently with (assistant coach Tyronn) Lue and so often looking at anyone other than Blatt.
“There was LeBron, in one instance I witnessed from right behind the bench, shaking his head loudest nonverbal scolding you could imagine.”
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On Thursday, Blatt said outsiders try to make his relationship with James “more than it is.”
“People sometimes judge things on a game or on a period of time and they forget that we’re in there working together and striving to make the utmost of our team and of our situation day to day,” Blatt said. “And a bond develops over time that is a lot more than what meets the eye. … I can just tell you it’s been a fantastic experience, and I’m looking forward to continuing it.”
This isn’t the first time the relationship between Blatt and James has been under the microscope. During the Cavs’ series against the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals, James disagreed with a play Blatt called during a timeout. Cleveland ended up running a different play, and James made the winning shot. He called working with James “invigorating and exhilarating in all honesty.”
Blatt said it’s important that James feel “empowered” and said he “certainly respected the fact that LeBron’s heart was in the right place.”
Cavs general manager David Griffin defended his coach.
“Relative to the tone of the stories, I really don’t care,” Griffin said. “I think sensational sells now, and certainly with a team like ours the more sensational the better. LeBron himself said, I think it was June 1, LeBron himself said he thinks coach has done a hell of a job. So if you want to use his actual words, that’s what the man said.”
Indeed, James gave Blatt credit at the All-Star break and during the playoffs, but as Griffin noted, the controversial narrative generates more buzz.
Griffin complimented Blatt’s ability to adapt on the fly during the regular season and then in the postseason with injuries to guard Kyrie Irving and forward Kevin Love.
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“We literally won an incredible number of games against very, very good teams playing radically different styles from each other,” Griffin said. “So from a purely basketball perspective, I’m not quite sure exactly what anybody is looking to have happen.
“So I think one thing David did as well as anybody I’ve ever seen, and I wish I did better, was just ignore the noise from the media perspective. Because frankly, none of that means anything. We know what actually takes place here.”
Griffin was exasperated at the conjecture about Blatt’s future with the team.
“I just don’t know what we’re really critiquing at this point anymore,” Griffin said.
Griffin said Cavs owner Dan Gilbert will review the basketball operations department.
“Ownership will look at this from the top down, and they’re going to look at me. They’ll look at David, and they’re going to look at all of us, and we’re going to try to get better,” Griffin said. “That’s what we do all the time.”
Also:
Griffin said he expect James and Love to opt out of the final year of their deals but anticipates both will be back. He also said the Cavs intend to retain restricted free agent forward Tristan Thompson and Cleveland will extend qualifying offers to restricted free agent guard Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova.
Griffin also wants to add “more young playmaking pieces.”
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