Nothin' but Net: Patience still required in Cleveland

Published January 08, 2015

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Seems like the NBA world is up in arms once again about the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It's like beating one's self in the head, but, let's go through the exercise once more.

This present edition of the Cavaliers was not going to walk on to the floor and be dominant. There were too many variables going against that notion and it's manifested itself on the court.

That's why the latest rumblings, focused on an ESPN report that head coach David Blatt is having a hard time getting through to the team, have risen. That comes after a 23-home blowout at the hands of lowly Detroit Pistons.

Since the Cavs have lost two of three games and only rank fifth in the Eastern Conference, it's time to bang on this drum. Heads need to roll for this disgraceful start.

What a surprise that coaching in the NBA, coaching LeBron James and two other superstars, proved to be a little more difficult than coaching in Israel. Gasp.

Remember, Blatt was hired prior to James' signing. This is in no way implying that Blatt wouldn't have taken the job, but he got something way different than what he expected.

And things aren't perfect in Cleveland. The body language stinks. They perpetually look tired, although Blatt said on Monday that the team hasn't practiced in nine days.

The have no rim protector. They didn't in camp, haven't had one all season. No surprise on that front.

Defensively, this team was going to struggle. James is a good defender, although no longer great, but no one else on the roster, save for 250-year-old Shawn Marion, is even remotely solid.

Cleveland ranks 14th in opponents' scoring. Defense still remains primarily about effort, so maybe it's Blatt's fault that this mix of veterans and pups aren't trying hard enough on that side of the ball.

Or, maybe a few veterans need to step up and do their jobs.

This nonsense about firing Blatt 30 games into the season really frosts my proverbial cookies. The worst thing the Cavaliers can do at a time like this, you know, a time where they're playing .600 basketball, is fire a head coach.

Blatt was going to struggle this season no matter what. He's an accomplished man, but he has zero head coaching experience in the NBA. Then, he has to manage the greatest player in the world, possibly the most famous human on this pebble called Earth. He has to turn two perennial All-Stars into winners when they've won nothing in this league, all while growing into the job on his own.

When Blatt thought he was getting a young, scattered Cavs' team led by Kyrie Irving, he was still greener than Al Gore carrying a frog through Dublin on St. Patrick's Day. Nothing changed with James in town. The job got more difficult. Thirty games is no barometer.

If James and the rest of the Cavs preach how this is a process (it is), how would it be considered fair to dismiss the head coach so early in said process? Business isn't fair, but there has been nothing apparent other than an expected growing period and some underachieving that makes this Cavs team a failure punishable by termination.

Blatt is taking it somewhat in stride.

"When things go a little bit bad, naturally, some people want to pin those questions because they seem to be an easy thing to do. I think that's unfair," he said after practice on Monday. "I don't listen to things. I'm very confident in what I do and what we're doing."

Smart answer, but let's be fair, there have been unforeseen issues in Cleveland.

This offense should be the Harlem Globetrotters. It hasn't been. When the Cavs move the ball, they're unstoppable. When the offense gets stagnant, it's awful.

Kevin Love hasn't found his way. When these mega-teams get together, someone always sacrifices his game, or, has it sacrificed for him. Love has been that guy. Wasn't going to be LeBron, and Irving is the point guard with the ball in his hands, so Love was the guy.

The rotation has been clunky. Varejao's injury hasn't helped. Against the Miami Heat on Christmas Day, Blatt started Marion. Now, Tristan Thompson is the man, although there's no true center. Brendon Haywood is the only true big man left on the roster and he's played 37 minutes this season, which puts him about a minute and a half behind what 34-year-old Mike Miller played against the Orlando Magic on Friday.

The Cavs need to address the problem in the pivot. Dave McMenamin of ESPN, who covers the Cavaliers, said he's heard they don't want to look outside the NBA for a big like Jermaine O'Neal, Kenyon Martin or Emeka Okafor. (If healthy, I'd look at Okafor.)

But, as we all know, the straw stirring the drink, both on-court and off, is James.

He had every opportunity to offer effusive praise of coach Blatt and didn't offer it. James was positive and pragmatic.

"My relationship with the coach continues to get better and better every day," said James. "This is two months of us being together. I don't know him fully, he doesn't know me fully ... He has our attention. We know what we want to do on the floor. We have to do a better job of going out and executing what they want us to do."

Then, it sort of turned into something a little defensive.

"He's our coach. What other coach do we have," asked James.

King James was asked, knowing how important an endorsement for coach Blatt would be coming from him, for one.

"I don't pay no bills around here man. I play," said James. "I'm happy with who we have at our helm. He's our coach. For it to make a feud between me and Blatt, or the team and Blatt, it's just a sell. It's just a sell and get people to read and put something on the bottom of the ticker, that's all it is."

That may be true, but James has a history with a new head coach to the league and there were no whispers back then about his relationship with Erik Spoelstra.

Compounding James' tepid endorsement was a column written by Chris Haynes for cleveland.com, which included this:

"Given the massive scrutiny he would endure if he departed Cleveland a second time, if his hand is forced, I'm told he won't hesitate to make the appropriate business decision if it means bolting."

I can not conceive a scenario where James bolts Cleveland immediately. So, with all due respect, I don't think we are the nuclear option yet in Cleveland.

Every day that goes by, the argument that Cleveland needs time to make this work loses luster. But, the reality is, if this is a long-term process with the Cavs, then 30 games is no real test.

It's enough of questioning the Cavs this early. Expectations were entirely too high, so reality has set in. Reality is still pretty good with a possibility for improvement.

Nothing nuclear, Cavs. Stay the course.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nothin-but-net-patience-still-required-in-cleveland