As an NBA team playing in a hotly contested playoff game, do you want your star players to be able to over-rule the coach when designing the plays for the end of the game? Take yesterday’s game between the Bulls and the Cavs. 1.5 seconds left in the game. LeBron has shot 9 for 29 for the game and has committed 2 offensive fouls in the last minute and a half. Kyrie Irving hurt is ankle and has been a non-factor. Coach Dave Blatt, rookie in the NBA but very experienced internationally, has LeBron taking out the ball underneath the basket. In the huddle, LeBron over-rules the coach and says just give me the ball. Naturally, he drains a fall back base line jumper from the corner at the buzzer and is the hero. But is this a good thing?
This incident made me recall the series between the Knicks and the Bulls back in the mid-1990s after Jordan had “retired” and Scottie Pippen was the star player. Phil Jackson drew up a last second play for Toni Kukoc to take the shot. Pippen got pissed off in the huddle and took himself out of the game. Kukoc hit the 3-pointer to win the game and Pippen looked like a fool and a spoiled, selfish NBA star. In that case, Jackson wanted to use Pippen as a decoy to free up Kukoc to take the shot.
We all know the NBA is a star’s league – more so than any other professional sport. No doubt, a lot of this goes on in late game huddles. Hell, even in the movie Hoosiers, coach Gene Hackman originally had someone else taking the last shot in the championship game until Jimmie Chitwood spoke up that he would make it and the coach changed the play. It is unusual that your star player feels the need to publicly acknowledge what happened in the post-game press conference, and make your coach look a little small. For Dave Blatt, he also lost track of the timeouts and almost called one in the last few seconds that he didn’t have which would have resulted in a technical foul and loss of possession (and likely the game). But one of his assistants pulled him back to the bench and saved him.
From SU’s standpoint, these coaches have 27 assistants to help them in these situations (note: back in the Knick glory days, it was just coach Red Holzman and he had trainer Danny Whelan who kept track of the timeouts. No other assistants on the bench back then). Blatt will now be in the spotlight and may be viewed as a puppet coach who is being manipulated by LeBron the rest of the playoffs. SU does not love this situation because here is how it may play out. If Cleveland advances and goes all the way, LeBron adds to his legacy as superstar and pseudo-coach. If they lose, and it’s because of some late game decisions by LeBron, he will blame it on the coach. LeBron needs to set the record straight today that Dave Blatt is the coach and the players have some input at times – even if it’s not true. And the reason is that things will only spiral downhill from here if they don’t nip it in the bud. SU is not a fan of the control freak coach who calls every possession like Pat Riley. But there needs to be some order in late games situations.
Your thoughts?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
yes
Agreed, yes. He’s different than Scottie Pippen. There are a handful of athletes in every league that have earned the right to make that decision, and he’s absolutely one of them. Also, it’s a tie game, so really not a ton of risk putting the ball in the best player in the arena’s hands. Seems more like bad coaching than over-stepping by a player.
I think the better question would be, “Do you want David Blatt calling ANYTHING for the Cavaliers?” When I heard aboout LeBron allegedly calling plays during the year, I thought it was overblown and not a big deal. But after yesterday, I think Blatt lost all credibility as a coach. The most disappointed person in America at the end of that game was Chris Weber, because if the refs had seen Blatt calling timeout and they blew that game, Webber’s mistake would have paled by comparison. And calling a last second play with LeBron as the inbounder is incomprehensible.
The only thing I can think of is that when he had James Jones trying to inbound the ball, he had to burn timeouts as he couldn’t get it in. Blatt must have thought that LeBron, being a superior passer, could get it in more effectively. The better play is to have LeBron on the court but perhaps used as a decoy. Plenty of coaches will do that with their star players.
Not buying that one. A decoy maybe, but he can’t be the one inbounding the ball in that spot. The worst case scenario is a turnover and you go to OT. I read a lot of good things about Blatt before the year. but if I’m a player on that team, he has no credibility with me.
SU,
Some big news in the college basketball world today. First, my Terps just got Rasheed Sulaimon from Duke, a great player with a checkered history- was thrown off the team and there certain allegations made my a female student. I know you liked Turgeon from the showtime documentary, you have to trust he did adequate due diligence before signing Sulaimon.
Also, your Wolverines just got a commitment from Tyus Battle, a 5-star recruit.
Yesterday was a great day of sports. The Players Championship was possibly the most exciting finish in recent golf history – 6 guys had a chance within the final hour, 3 in a playoff that included playing the island green 17th hole two additional times. Great win for Fowler. Then throw in the Rangers win and the Cavs/Bulls, what a day.
Happy Monday!
Ben, interesting that Maryland is taking a chance on Sulaimon. He is certainly a good player but he comes with baggage. Maryland has hit the ground running in the Big Ten and looks to be in position to follow up a successful inaugural season with a strong second one. But SU is excited about Michigan and how they have retooled for next season. I love Michigan sports and the basketball team helps me to remember why I love sound team ball. I am only a golf viewer during the majors or when Tiger Woods is in contention. But the field seems deeper today than any time I can recall with so many players who can win each week. Having a deep field is key.
This is late on the LeBron question. I have had to join Twitter as most of my kids’ activities results are posted there (and delays, cancellations, etc.). My son told me to take a look at LeBron’s twitter feed. It really is a constant babble – it’s like he just can’t help himself when he communicates. The comments about the play, etc. are just like that. Once he gets started – he just can’t stop! I admire his game, his drive, and the way he gets all involved in the game. But when it comes to communication, he is just like anyone in his age range: it’s all about him.