Why LeBron James Needs to Follow David Blatt's Lead, Not Vice Versa
You could barely believe David Blatt's good luck: Plucked from relative obscurity in Europe to marshal a rudderless, uninspired NBA team, only to have the world’s greatest player decide the time was nigh to save the day himself.
From that very moment, the principal power dynamic within the Cleveland Cavaliers organization seemed a simple one: Blatt, feet freshly foisted from frying pan to fire, needed to heed LeBron James’ lead.
Such a development would better serve LeBron’s savior narrative, of course.
For the Cavs to make good on their immense promise, however, James needs to be the one following suit.
To be sure, when you’re dealing with a player of LeBron’s cosmic caliber, there’s only so much rein-tightening to be done; sooner or later, James’ incomparable instincts are bound to burst forth.
Rather, the onus is on the King to lend his chief strategist more than just a polite, passing ear.
To his credit, James, during a recent interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, came off as at least somewhat deferential:
"I'm coachable. I'm very coachable, so it never really mattered to me. I don't go into it saying I know it all. Every coach and every guy has his own system, has what he believes in. So, I'm a very coachable guy. I believe I can help as well. I have a high basketball IQ, as well, I think. But as far as picking a team or going somewhere because of a coach, it's never been my thing.
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Still, it’s hard not to read into some of James’ attendant remarks—“[Blatt] being here, it wasn’t part of my process of coming back”—a bit of a verbal cold shoulder. There’s a nascent undercurrent that no coach, no matter how accomplished or forward-thinking, could ever be good enough to curry the King’s favor.
Viewed from a slightly different angle, James could’ve merely been trying to emphasize that Blatt’s lack of NBA experience was in no way a mark in his disfavor.
Whatever the psychological underpinnings, James—cognizant of the high-wire act he and his team now face—was clearly treading lightly.
Then there’s this anecdote from a recent Cavs training-camp session, courtesy of CBS’s Ken Berger:
"The coaching staff retreated to their evening meeting, which lasted 30 minutes or so. When they emerged, what they saw was heartening, if not particularly surprising: There was James on the practice floor with four teammates, marching them through the intricacies of Blatt's offensive system from the perspective of each position, one through five. James had already mastered them all.
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“Actions speak louder than words” would certainly be a fair retort. At the same time, the difference between the practice floor and game time is—in both stakes and strategic approach—a massive one. Today’s coach-by-proxy could easily become tomorrow’s real-time rebel.
That might sound like so much LeBron alarmism. For Blatt, though, the star-system balancing act is bound to be a delicate one. On the one hand, the need for Blatt to register his authority is a very real one. Respect, after all, is impossible without it.
On the other, so much of coaching lies in knowing when to dangle the carrot, when to wield the stick, and when to shut up altogether. Having the best basketball player on the planet complicates that calculus to an incredible degree. Particularly when you factor 12 or 13 teammates into the equation.
For Blatt, then, finding his voice in the Cavaliers locker room stands to be one of the greatest challenges of his career.
The resume, by contrast, speaks for itself: Four-time Israeli League Coach of the Year, five Israeli League crowns, six Israeli Cup championships, the 2014 Euroleague Champion and Euroleague Coach of the Year, and enough ancillary honors to fill a bakery display case.
For his part, Blatt hasn’t been shy about acknowledging just how big and lasting an impression his international experience has made, telling ESPN’s McMenamin:
"I think to a certain extent, I feel a responsibility recognizing that I spent 30 years of my life overseas and learned a lot of basketball overseas, came into contact with a lot of great people over there that helped me and taught me or competed with me and raised my level.
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But Blatt’s astounding cross-pond success is about much more than the success of his ever-blossoming system, and includes plenty in the way of player accolades. From a recent story by Sports Illustrated’s Jack McCallum:
"The broad strokes of what Blatt will do -- or wants to do -- with James and the Cavaliers are clear. Being a creature of both Princeton backdoors and European open courts, Blatt is no isolationist. Gush to him about the Spurs' team play in the 2014 Finals, and Blatt will concur only with reserve...
…Ultimately, though, systems and X's and O's were not the primary reason Cleveland hired Blatt. For one thing, Griffin said he received unanimous reviews from the former Blatt players he talked to ... and he talked to more than a hundred. The Cavs also felt that Blatt's success at Maccabi would help prepare him for NBA stress
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Comparisons abound between Blatt’s system and that of the San Antonio Spurs, the team responsible for putting an early kybosh on LeBron and the Miami Heat’s bid at a three-peat this past June.
Coincidence? Perhaps. At the same time, James is nothing if not calculating. Having watched Gregg Popovich’s band of grizzled, ground-bound basketballistas dismantle his Heat in chillingly quick fashion, how could LeBron not consider his next team’s system as of the strategic utmost?
Roundball Rome wasn’t built in a day, of course, a fact Manu Ginobili cast in high relief when he recently told NBA.com it took the Spurs “around four years” to truly master their championship formula.
Which makes it all the more important that Blatt and James—sides of one, Cleveland-redeeming coin—continue making communication and collaboration their partnership’s pillars.
For these two peerless basketball brains, carrying the Cavaliers to a championship demands they not only find the same page, but stay there as well.
More importantly, it’s crucial that LeBron acknowledges it’s Blatt’s book binding that page. Even if James, as always, is sure to write reams of his own.
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