David Blatt is a good coach, incredible underrated

[SportsGuy8]

@ChosunX: Have you seen their chemistry? Even just looking at what's happening on their bench says a lot.

What you seem to fail to understand (same with most of the media) is that it was never that much about LeBron being against Blatt per se, it was more about LeBron's insecurity and how he's always trying to prove something to the media, to his critics, especially about how he's a leader and a winner (the lack of which was always pointed out by his critics). Even when he openly said that he "scratched the play", it wasn't about him trying to show Blatt in a bad light, it was about him trying to show/tell the world that he's for the big moments and thus prove his critics wrong. He even defended Blatt the next day when he realized how the whole thing made Blatt look.

Such things have been happening the whole season. Many people think they're directed towards Blatt, but they're really not. It's all about LeBron trying to send messages to his critics (because he's quite insecure for whatever reason).

[improvisor]

Cavs have built leads with Lebron on the bench this post season. Thats good coaching.

[Hero]

Let's see how this good coach does in the finals.

[fancynapkin]

I've seen a total distrust of all media reports from them. Basically if the media says one thing, then that means opposite is true. Blatt is a good coach, but this season and playoffs are not the evidence that supports it.

You honestly don't think the Cavs' playoff performance is an indication that Blatt is a good coach? He just demolished the coach of the year in an embarrassing four game sweep. His game plans completely shut the Hawks down and coach Bud clearly had no idea how to adjust to stop Blatt's schemes. This is also the best we've ever seen role players play next to LeBron in the playoffs. You don't think coaching has something to do with that? Blatt's putting these guys in a position to be successful and they're stepping up to the plate.

Further, Love went down and the Cavs instantly morphed from an elite offensive team with a good defense to an elite defensive team with a good offense. That's absolutely coaching. Blatt changed the team's style to correspond with the loss of a key player.

The Hawk's collapse had nothing to do with Blatt out-coaching Budenholzer.

The Cavs lead the league in isolation plays. They are second to last in the playoffs in assists per game.
But ignoring all that, just by the eye test it is completely obvious that the offense is Lebron running high pick-and-rolls, and not Blatt's Princeton offense.

You can both acknowledge that and think Blatt is doing a good job, by the way.

[Patsfan1081]

Your never going to be able to rate Blatt as a head coach from this year and you can't say his has outcoached any of the teams he played so far. We'll know a couple years down the road when he has less talent or he has been through more hardships.

[Patsfan1081]

Cavs have built leads with Lebron on the bench this post season. Thats good coaching.

Lebron is a better coach when he's not on the floor, I agree, he sees the floor a lot better.

[playoffs]

Your never going to be able to rate Blatt as a head coach from this year and you can't say his has outcoached any of the teams he played so far. We'll know a couple years down the road when he has less talent or he has been through more hardships.

I guess losing your starting center early in the season, losing your second and third best players for most of the playoffs, and another starter for two games against the team who most people picked ahead of you to come out of the east, in addition to your best player shooting 27% outside of the paint isn't enough hardship...

[playoffs]

I've seen a total distrust of all media reports from them. Basically if the media says one thing, then that means opposite is true. Blatt is a good coach, but this season and playoffs are not the evidence that supports it.

You honestly don't think the Cavs' playoff performance is an indication that Blatt is a good coach? He just demolished the coach of the year in an embarrassing four game sweep. His game plans completely shut the Hawks down and coach Bud clearly had no idea how to adjust to stop Blatt's schemes. This is also the best we've ever seen role players play next to LeBron in the playoffs. You don't think coaching has something to do with that? Blatt's putting these guys in a position to be successful and they're stepping up to the plate.

Further, Love went down and the Cavs instantly morphed from an elite offensive team with a good defense to an elite defensive team with a good offense. That's absolutely coaching. Blatt changed the team's style to correspond with the loss of a key player.

The Hawk's collapse had nothing to do with Blatt out-coaching Budenholzer.

The Cavs lead the league in isolation plays. They are second to last in the playoffs in assists per game.
But ignoring all that, just by the eye test it is completely obvious that the offense is Lebron running high pick-and-rolls, and not Blatt's Princeton offense.

You can both acknowledge that and think Blatt is doing a good job, by the way.

I wish people who haven't followed the Cavs and just read some BS the media spews would stop making these kinds of comments. Blatt is not a Princeton offense guy. Never has been. The media decided that he is because he went to Princeton and played for Pete Carril. Blatt has made his career by adapting to the strengths of his players. If you watch his teams in Europe they play very different styles depending on the personnel. What he has done consistently throughout his career is get the best possible performance out of his role players when it matters, which is exactly what he is doing in Cleveland. The Cavs lead the league in ISOs because they have two of the best ISO players on the planet and he is playing to their strengths. If you want to understand more about why they use ISO so much, read this: http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/the- ... att-052515

[fancynapkin]

You honestly don't think the Cavs' playoff performance is an indication that Blatt is a good coach? He just demolished the coach of the year in an embarrassing four game sweep. His game plans completely shut the Hawks down and coach Bud clearly had no idea how to adjust to stop Blatt's schemes. This is also the best we've ever seen role players play next to LeBron in the playoffs. You don't think coaching has something to do with that? Blatt's putting these guys in a position to be successful and they're stepping up to the plate.

Further, Love went down and the Cavs instantly morphed from an elite offensive team with a good defense to an elite defensive team with a good offense. That's absolutely coaching. Blatt changed the team's style to correspond with the loss of a key player.

The Hawk's collapse had nothing to do with Blatt out-coaching Budenholzer.

The Cavs lead the league in isolation plays. They are second to last in the playoffs in assists per game.
But ignoring all that, just by the eye test it is completely obvious that the offense is Lebron running high pick-and-rolls, and not Blatt's Princeton offense.

You can both acknowledge that and think Blatt is doing a good job, by the way.

I wish people who haven't followed the Cavs and just read some BS the media spews would stop making these kinds of comments. Blatt is not a Princeton offense guy. Never has been. The media decided that he is because he went to Princeton and played for Pete Carril. Blatt has made his career by adapting to the strengths of his players. If you watch his teams in Europe they play very different styles depending on the personnel. What he has done consistently throughout his career is get the best possible performance out of his role players when it matters, which is exactly what he is doing in Cleveland. The Cavs lead the league in ISOs because they have two of the best ISO players on the planet and he is playing to their strengths. If you want to understand more about why they use ISO so much, read this: http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/the- ... att-052515

So it's just a coincidence then that this carefully constructed "Blatt" offense looks exactly like what LeBron was doing the last time he was in Cleveland? Please.

Blatt has said specifically in interviews that while he doesn't implement a full Princeton offense, he said his teams always run different sets depending on the defense: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/qa-ca ... e-natural/
That isn't what the Cavs are doing.

[playoffs]

The Hawk's collapse had nothing to do with Blatt out-coaching Budenholzer.

The Cavs lead the league in isolation plays. They are second to last in the playoffs in assists per game.
But ignoring all that, just by the eye test it is completely obvious that the offense is Lebron running high pick-and-rolls, and not Blatt's Princeton offense.

You can both acknowledge that and think Blatt is doing a good job, by the way.

I wish people who haven't followed the Cavs and just read some BS the media spews would stop making these kinds of comments. Blatt is not a Princeton offense guy. Never has been. The media decided that he is because he went to Princeton and played for Pete Carril. Blatt has made his career by adapting to the strengths of his players. If you watch his teams in Europe they play very different styles depending on the personnel. What he has done consistently throughout his career is get the best possible performance out of his role players when it matters, which is exactly what he is doing in Cleveland. The Cavs lead the league in ISOs because they have two of the best ISO players on the planet and he is playing to their strengths. If you want to understand more about why they use ISO so much, read this: http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/the- ... att-052515

So it's just a coincidence then that this carefully constructed "Blatt" offense looks exactly like what LeBron was doing the last time he was in Cleveland? Please.

Blatt has said specifically in interviews that while he doesn't implement a full Princeton offense, he said his teams always run different sets depending on the defense: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/qa-ca ... e-natural/
That isn't what the Cavs are doing.

Really? So please enlighten me on what the Cavs are doing, because it sure seems like you know a lot about what they are doing without watching them.

If you think Blatt's offense has any resemblance to Mike Brown's offense, well, I don't know what to tell you. Mike Brown made little to no adjustments. Blatts offense is 10 time more versatile that MB's offense, which is why a supposedly elite defense such as the Bulls' had no answers for it, despite LeBron shooting extremely poorly, Kyrie being out or ineffective most of the series due to injury, Love being out, and JR being suspended for two games. The Cavs' offense is extremely efficient despite being ISO heavy because the ISO sets are used when they give the Cavs an advantage but they have also demonstrated an ability to move the ball beautifully whenever it is needed.

[bleeds_purple]

The Hawk's collapse had nothing to do with Blatt out-coaching Budenholzer.

The Cavs lead the league in isolation plays. They are second to last in the playoffs in assists per game.
But ignoring all that, just by the eye test it is completely obvious that the offense is Lebron running high pick-and-rolls, and not Blatt's Princeton offense.

You can both acknowledge that and think Blatt is doing a good job, by the way.

I wish people who haven't followed the Cavs and just read some BS the media spews would stop making these kinds of comments. Blatt is not a Princeton offense guy. Never has been. The media decided that he is because he went to Princeton and played for Pete Carril. Blatt has made his career by adapting to the strengths of his players. If you watch his teams in Europe they play very different styles depending on the personnel. What he has done consistently throughout his career is get the best possible performance out of his role players when it matters, which is exactly what he is doing in Cleveland. The Cavs lead the league in ISOs because they have two of the best ISO players on the planet and he is playing to their strengths. If you want to understand more about why they use ISO so much, read this: http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/the- ... att-052515

So it's just a coincidence then that this carefully constructed "Blatt" offense looks exactly like what LeBron was doing the last time he was in Cleveland? Please.

Blatt has said specifically in interviews that while he doesn't implement a full Princeton offense, he said his teams always run different sets depending on the defense: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/qa-ca ... e-natural/
That isn't what the Cavs are doing.

First, you're totally off-base regarding the high-pick and roll. Lebron was living on the left block the entire time during the last two series. He was rarely involved in pick and rolls and when he was it was usually as a screener for Irving.

Second, it seems plainly obvious what the Cavs were doing which was, exactly as the other poster said, adapting to the circumstances. Specifically, they realized Lebron was unstoppable in the post so they milked it for all it was worth.

Its fun to be a hater and all but sometimes you should actually look at this objectively.

[j_n]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-nA2M71_ug[/youtube]

[Potential]

I thought LeBron was the coach? Lol

[EscapoTHB]

Is there a coach in the NBA that is more beloved by it's own fanbase than David Blatt? I remember even when the Heat were winning titles, a lot of Heat fans hated Spoelstra and wanted him fired at several points. You even see San Antonio fans sometimes go in on Popovich. But with Blatt there's this circle the wagons attitude that is really interesting. He's much more popular than Mike Brown was when Mike Brown reached the finals with a lesser team.

[ChosunX]

Is there a coach in the NBA that is more beloved by it's own fanbase than David Blatt? I remember even when the Heat were winning titles, a lot of Heat fans hated Spoelstra and wanted him fired at several points. You even see San Antonio fans sometimes go in on Popovich. But with Blatt there's this circle the wagons attitude that is really interesting. He's much more popular than Mike Brown was when Mike Brown reached the finals with a lesser team.

Based on the sample size of Realgm posters...

It does not tell anything.

[EscapoTHB]

Is there a coach in the NBA that is more beloved by it's own fanbase than David Blatt? I remember even when the Heat were winning titles, a lot of Heat fans hated Spoelstra and wanted him fired at several points. You even see San Antonio fans sometimes go in on Popovich. But with Blatt there's this circle the wagons attitude that is really interesting. He's much more popular than Mike Brown was when Mike Brown reached the finals with a lesser team.

Based on the sample size of Realgm posters...

It does not tell anything.

I was going more off of twitter, because I use that more.

[improper]

Is there a coach in the NBA that is more beloved by it's own fanbase than David Blatt? I remember even when the Heat were winning titles, a lot of Heat fans hated Spoelstra and wanted him fired at several points. You even see San Antonio fans sometimes go in on Popovich. But with Blatt there's this circle the wagons attitude that is really interesting. He's much more popular than Mike Brown was when Mike Brown reached the finals with a lesser team.

Mike Brown was terrible at making adjustments. Blatt has proved very good at that during the postseason, as he's entirely changed the way his team plays to go along with the changes in personnel due to injuries. After ten years of Mike Brown and Byron Scott, anyone who doesn't have their head up their ass is going to look ridiculously better by comparison.

[Swift21]

Cavs had tougher road to Finals than GSW

Hawks/Bulls/Celtics combined are better than Rockets/Grizzlies/Pelicans

If Cavs get Irving back anything is possible for them bc of their shutdown defense.

Yeah.. no. The Celtics would not be a playoff team in the western conference.

[improper]

Cavs had tougher road to Finals than GSW

Hawks/Bulls/Celtics combined are better than Rockets/Grizzlies/Pelicans

If Cavs get Irving back anything is possible for them bc of their shutdown defense.

Yeah.. no. The Celtics would not be a playoff team in the western conference.

If you go by their win/loss record after they made key trades, they would have been. I believe they had the second best record in the league after the All-Star break, behind only Cleveland.

[Tave]

He received more negative press than positive this season, so I'd call him underrated at the moment. Too many critics get caught up in the moment and swept away by non-basketball drama. This team didn't really exist until January, and here they are in the Finals. That's impressive no matter who it is, coach or player. All those guys should feel good about the year. I also agree that it seems like the Cavs took a step forward for the playoffs, everyone is clicking.