The Cleveland Cavaliers have fired Head Coach David Blatt after amassing an Eastern Conference leading 30-11 record. Tyronn Lue takes over as head coach. He and the team reached a multi-year deal. Blatt was in his second season as the coach of the Cavaliers. Blatt leaves the Cavaliers, his first NBA coaching job, with an 83-40 record. His .675 winning percentage was the best of any coach in franchise history.
Since last year when the Cavs lost in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors, Blatt has been a “dead man walking.” In game 4 of the 2015 NBA Finals against Golden State, LeBron James threw Blatt under the bus when he declared in the press conference; “To be honest, the play that was drawn up, I scratched it.” James continued to say that he told Blatt, “And I just told coach to just give me the ball and we’re either gonna go into overtime or I’m gonna win it for us. It was that simple.” James did hit the game-winning shot, but Blatt also made another crucial mistake earlier when he beckoned for a timeout that the Cavs didn’t have, and was restrained by assistant coach Tyronn Lue. That mistake would have resulted in a technical foul which could have cost them the game. James' actions displayed not only a lack of respect for Blatt, but a sign that the two were not on the same page as superstar and coach.
Blatt released a statement to the press that said: “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as the Head Coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. I’d like to thank Dan Gilbert and David Griffin for giving me this opportunity and am honored to have worked with an amazing group of players from LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love through our entire roster. I’d also like to express my extreme gratitude to my coaching staff. I am indebted to them for their professionalism, hard work, loyalty and friendship. I am proud of what we have accomplished since I have been the Head Coach and wish the Cavaliers nothing but the best this season and beyond.”
