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I know, the headline sounds like a real hot take, doesn’t it? The head coach of a team in the NBA Finals should no longer worry about losing his job. The sky is blue, grass is green.
If this were any other team, yeah, such a statement would be incredibly obvious. But, this is the Cleveland Cavaliers and David Blatt we’re talking about. And, if there was ever a moment where you could pretty much guarantee the Cavs coach – enduring an incredibly dramatic and stressful rookie season – would be back next year, it was when the clock hit zero this past Tuesday.
As soon as Cleveland finished off their Game 4 spanking of the Atlanta Hawks, sweeping its way into the Finals, Blatt essentially received the most job security he’s had since stepping foot in Ohio. It’s odd that the Cavs, entering the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, would ever remotely consider a coaching change in the offseason. But, as we know, things weren’t always peachy for Blatt.
Remember, LeBron James returned to the Cavs a few weeks after Blatt was brought in to coach the team. He didn’t get any say in the hiring, and such a fact was noted well through Cleveland’s initial rough patch this season. Blatt spent the first half of the season hearing from numerous outlets his job was on the line. The team couldn’t get its act together, and therefore it was all his fault.
Even when the Cavs began turning things around, very little seemed to change regarding the perception of Blatt. People would still say things like “James obviously doesn’t respect him” or “If he doesn’t win a title, I doubt Blatt will be back next year.” It sounds insane, but such is life when dealing with the increased expectations which come from coaching James.
Entering the postseason, common thought remained that if Cleveland stumbled at all, Blatt would take the blame. Of course, had he been caught calling his infamous timeout against the Chicago Bulls, it’d be surprising if he wasn’t dumped at season’s end.
But, what if the Cavs ended up being locked in a back-and-forth seven game series with Chicago, ultimately losing? Would Blatt have been fired then?
Thing is, that question was still a legit one a couple rounds ago. Even without Kevin Love, even with a hobbled Kyrie Irving, it made sense to think Blatt might be on the hot seat pending the results of the playoffs.
Not anymore. You can’t ignore the fact this team dealt with several injury issues and was still able to steamroll the top seed in the Eastern Conference. James always helps the cause, sure, but Blatt clearly had a hand in it, too. It’s this effort that undoubtedly ensured he’ll be Cleveland’s coach next season.
Sure, owner Dan Gilbert recently said it wouldn’t have made sense to fire yet another coach after – or during – his first year. As we know, what someone says and what they end up doing can be two different things in the world of sports. I highly doubt Gilbert would be singing the same tune if the Cavs fell short in the postseason, especially if it was via a timeout mishap.
However, you’re now forced to admit Blatt has done everything asked of him when considering the cards he was dealt. Even if Cleveland ends up getting swept by the Golden State Warriors, that Blatt was able to guide his team this far while dealing with significant losses is still a testament to his efforts.
You may still believe James doesn’t truly trust his coach. You may think he has someone else he’d prefer instead of Blatt. At this point, though, it doesn’t matter.
As Blatt prepares his team for the NBA Finals, he can essentially rest assured his job is safe for at least another year. You don’t have to like him, but after what he’s done with this team, you clearly have to respect him.
Casey Drottar is the Cleveland Beat Writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter or “Like” him on Facebook
