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.