Fansided

Cavaliers owner ‘crushes’ report saying Dave Blatt will be fired

By Luke Dahlgren

Sep 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt and general manager David Griffin address the media during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt and general manager David Griffin address the media during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert shot down the rumor that their head coach Dave Blatt would be fired regardless of how the Cavaliers do in the playoffs.

Silliness parade master and professional haircut Ric Bucher can also see into the future. The NBA analyst appeared on Doug Gottlieb’s radio show to reveal a future for the Cleveland Cavaliers already carved in stone.

News of the inevitable firing reached Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. Rather than succumb to the unavoidable truth that he has no control over, Gilbert saw the news as an opportunity to go into his closet of functional footwear and put on his crushing boots.

They’re in between your waffling sneakers and petty revenge stillettos, Dan.

… yep, he found em.

"Crushed. The parade of silliness never ends…@cavshttps://t.co/0BS9O1ot0g— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) May 15, 2015"

That was spoken like a veteran of many silly parades.

At first glance, it seems as though Blatt serves only as a hindrance to the team’s success. This became evident late in the Cavs’ Game 4 victory when Blatt came onto the court and attempted to call a timeout that the Cavs did not have. His assistant coaches stopped him before the referees saw the timeout call. Later during the Cavaliers’ inbound play at the buzzer, his play call was overruled by LeBron James, who then tied the series.

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This was not the first time that LeBron demonstrated his influence over the team above Blatt, as LeBron has confessed to making executive decisions on the bench to override Blatt. Throughout the year, Blatt has been publicly criticized by LeBron James, and a great deal of the blame for the Cavaliers early season struggles was placed on the Cavaliers head coach.

Gilbert had no choice but to say that the report was ridiculous. The Cavaliers are in the Eastern Conference Finals; the focus in Cleveland should be on the team this year, not the coach next year. Anything except for absolute support for Blatt would hurt the Cavaliers in these upcoming games against the Atlanta Hawks.

The most important metric for determining Blatt’s value is how well he can manage the Cavs players. This is not a team that needs brilliant offensive sets followed like gospel. Rather, the Cavs need someone who they can trust will put them into a position to win with appropriate lineups and personnel and get out of the way. With LeBron exerting so much control, it is tough to always say which decisions come from him and which come from Blatt.

We will know the answer to that when we see if Blatt returns next year.

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