Just 30 games into his first season as an NBA head coach, David Blatt might already be losing the ears of his players.
There is “rising concern” within the Cleveland Cavaliers organization that Blatt is no longer reaching his team, ESPN.com reported Monday, citing sources. The team’s performance has failed to match expectations with LeBron James and Kevin Love added to a roster that already included Kyrie Irving.
“The Cavs’ effort level, especially defensively, is eroding noticeably, raising the volume of questions about just how much the locker room is listening to the 55-year-old Boston native, who has enjoyed tremendous international success but began this season as a relative unknown to NBA players,” ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein wrote.
Approached about the rumor, James gave his coach an underwhelming endorsement.
“Well, listen, man, I don’t pay no bills around here,” James told reporters. “Listen, man, I play. I’m happy with who we have at our helm. He’s our coach, but to make it a feud between me and Blatt or the team and Blatt is just a sell. It’s just a sell to get people to read it and put something on the bottom of the ticker. That’s all it is.”
The Cavs are fifth in the Eastern Conference with an 18-12 record after an embarrassing 103-80 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
Thumbnail photo via David Richard/USA TODAY Sports Images
