Another chapter in the odd relationship between LeBron James and David Blatt surfaced when ESPN's Brian Windhorst commented that James was the one calling plays during the game, and Blatt was just relaying what James decided to the rest of the team.
David Blatt says it’s not ‘unusual’ that LeBron James calls the Cavaliers’ plays
Both the Cavaliers’ coach and their star player downplayed the significance of James calling plays.
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But James and Blatt have gone on the record to deny the importance of such a revelation. Both said that while James often does calls plays, there’s nothing unusual about that.
“We have sets that we know what we’re going to use going in,” Blatt said, via ESPN. “You know, we have a package that we’re going to use going in and at times, according to the flow of the game, somebody may call out a play. I don’t think that’s unusual.”
James echoed the sentiment.
"Well, we have a package," James said. "If I see something, I have the right to call plays. Kyrie [Irving] does as well. We kind of do that play calling. Coach Blatt does the play calling obviously throughout the game in timeouts, but it's great to be able to have some type of freedom out there with Kyrie to be able to call sets that we feel best suit our team."
Blatt was signed before James committed to return to Cleveland, and there was speculation James was not happy with having a rookie NBA coach at the helm. Early in the season, Blatt was on the hot seat as the Cavaliers disappointed, but the questions surrounding his job security dissipated when the Cavs improved their play. What has persisted is the sense that James has more sway with the way the team plays than Blatt does.
After James took a more active role as a ball-handler months ago, he was asked about it and said he made the decision by himself, adding “I can do it on my own. ... I’m past those days where I have to ask.” There were also rumors about players ignoring Blatt when he called for a specific play before this recent news hit.
It’s not surprising to see stars call plays during games, but because of that past history and the microscope the Cavaliers are under day in and day out, it really was necessary for the two to set the record straight.
There are plenty of reasons to criticize Blatt for his work this season, but letting one of the smartest players ever call the shots on occasion doesn’t seem like one.
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