It seems that Lebron James' is not on the best of terms with Coach David Blatt. ESPN's Marc Stein has just published a revealing expose about the strained relations between the four time MVP and his first year coach just days after their team's NBA finals defeat to the Golden State Warriors.
Stein says that Lebron "emasculated Blatt" during the six game battle against the Warriors, citing several incidents where he witnessed the Cavaliers' star player undermine his coach's decisions and tactical adjustments.
"I saw it from close range in my role as sideline reporter through the Finals for ESPN Radio. LeBron essentially calling timeouts and making substitutions. LeBron openly barking at Blatt after decisions he didn't like. LeBron huddling frequently with [assistant coach] Lue and so often looking at anyone other than Blatt."
Stein's piece also reinforces the speculation that Lebron James played a bigger role in the team's playmaking decisions then most players:
"There was LeBron, in one instance I witnessed from right behind the bench, shaking his head vociferously in protest after one play Blatt drew up in the third quarter of Game 5, amounting to the loudest nonverbal scolding you could imagine. Which forced Blatt, in front of his whole team, to wipe the board clean and draw up something else."
These accounts are not the first pieces of evidence about the uneasy partnership between James and Blatt. Earlier in the playoffs during the Cavs' match up against the Chicago Bulls, Lebron admitted to calling an audible on one of Blatt's plays.
Earlier this year ESPN's Brian Windhorst guested on Bill Simmons' BS Report podcast and said James essentially scrapped Blatt's Princeton Style offensive scheme:
"The Princeton offense that David Blatt installed in the preseason, they just threw that out. What typically happens-and this has been happening for like three months now-is LeBron will take the ball, and LeBron will call the play. David Blatt will see what play LeBron calls, and he will repeat it to the team. That happens on a regular basis."
Despite all this, it seems Blatt will continue to serve as the Cavaliers' coach next season.
