NBA Cleveland Cavaliers

David Blatt Deserves Pass With Cleveland Cavaliers

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David Richard - USA Today Sports

David Richard – USA Today Sports

While many of those keeping close tabs on the underachieving Cleveland Cavaliers don’t think twice before blaming first year NBA coach David Blatt, it should be remembered that it’s his nearly endless overseas coaching triumphs throughout the years that gave owner Dan Gilbert the confidence to make the hire not many were prepared for.

This is the prime reason why Blatt is not deserving of all the criticism he’s received less than halfway through this up-and-down Cavs season.

Yes, LeBron James, the unanimous best player in the world, made his famous return home last summer; Kevin Love, arguably the best forward in the league, was shipped to Cleveland almost running right behind King James; one of the most exhilarating point guards in all the land, 22-year-old Kyrie Irving, welcomed both of them to town with open arms.

But what many refuse to acknowledge, despite all of this, is how the construction of the latest “Big Three” was not supposed to guarantee automatic trouncings of the other 29 teams the league has to offer, no matter how dominant the kids tell you the new-look Cavs are in the ever-so-popular video game NBA 2K15.

Blatt wasn’t supposed to lead Cleveland to the best record in the East, let alone the entire NBA.

Even if they do fall below the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings by the end of the regular season, that won’t be interpreted as any sort of disappointment. Not only were the Bulls a trendy pick coming into the season once Derrick Rose was expected to finally stay on the court for more than a millisecond, the addition of Pau Gasol and emergence of Jimmy Butler have made them all the more balanced and stunningly impressive.

As much as the sky seems to be falling in Cleveland, fans need to look at the team with some perspective.

Recent reports speak of a “divide” being developed between Blatt and his players. That certainly isn’t what fans want to hear, unless they’re the hopeful Los Angeles Lakers faithful wishing their team can pry Love away in free agency this offseason; but let’s say these split whispers really do have some juice to them.

Historically, how many teams suffering a so-called “divide” can say they were 19-16 at the time the issue went public? Not many come rushing to memory. That’s how absurd the flak is that Blatt has received.

The truth is, with a coach this experienced who knows all about what it takes to win, it’s simply hyperbole at its finest to think he’s incapable of getting his players to buy into his system completely before it’s too late and turn them into championship contenders. Although someone must inevitably be dubbed the goat, it’s time to break the rules and give Blatt a pass. Patience in a coach this well-versed will eventually show why he is deserving of one.

Mike B. Ruiz is an NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikebruiz and “Like” him on Facebook.

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