Cavaliers binuksan kaagad ang training camp

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Kaagad sinimulan ni Cleveland coach David Blatt ang paghahanda ng Ca­valiers.

‘’I’m a basketball coach, and I do it with passion and with pleasure,’’ sabi ni Blatt na dalawang dekadang na­ging mentor sa iba’t ibang bansa. ‘’This isn’t intimida­ting to me at all. It’s an honor to coach such a great group of players.’’

Nagpapawis sina four-time MVP LeBron James, All-Star power forward Ke­vin Love at All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving sa pagsi­simula ng training camp ng Cavaliers.

Kumpara sa ibang ko­po­nan na magtatayo pa la­mang ng kanilang pamatay na tropa, ang Cleveland ay mayroon nang mga sa­sandigang pla­yers na ina­asahang mag­papasok sa kanila sa NBA Finals.

“It beats the alternative of not having me, Kevin and Kyrie,” sabi ni James. “It’s going to be tough no mat­ter what, but Coach is very efficient and he’s going to see how we come together.”

Bago mag-ensayo ay ki­nausap muna ni James ang koponan para sa ka­nilang gagawing adjustment sa dating Maccabi Tel Aviv coach na si Blatt.

“We’ve got to build our habits and character now, and we’ve always got to protect each other,” wika ni James.

Nakipag-usap din si Love sa kanyang mga ba­gong kakampi.

“I told them we’re in this thing together and we can’t let anybody else in our circle,” ani Love. “It has to be a fox-hole mentality where we take care of one another at all times.”

Si Blatt ang unang na­ging European coach na na­­kapasok sa NBA.

Sa nakaraang season ay nagtala ang Cavaliers ng mahinang 33-49 win-loss record.

Nabigo silang makapasok sa playoffs sa ikaapat na sunod na season.

Hinugot din ng Cavaliers sina Mike Miller, James Jones at versatile small for­ward Shawn Marion.