There’s been talk about a rift between LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt. Well it looks like that’s over with as the Cleveland Cavaliers have turned their season around, winning their seventh game in a row with Tuesday’s 103-95 road victory over the Detroit Pistons. Now Cavs coach David Blatt believes it’s time for the narrative surrounding LeBron James’ campaign to change as well. Specifically, Blatt wants to know why James’ name doesn’t appear in the MVP conversation more often.
“That’s just kind of funny, to be honest with you,” Blatt said before the Pistons game. “First of all, he’s the greatest player in our game, and he’s had, since he’s been healthy — and really all year, but particularly since he’s been healthy — his performance has been as high level as ever. And you don’t have to look very far at our record to see what impact he has on this team when he’s playing and not playing.”
The Cavs have gone 25-12 with James in the lineup this season, and the 12-year veteran is now averaging 30.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.0 steals in eight games since returning from a two-week rest period to rehab strains in his left knee and lower back.
“Certainly it does say something about what his value is when he is absent, what happens to the team,” Blatt continued. “But again, it’s of course what his impact on his own team but it’s also the performance that that player is having relative to the rest of the league. Obviously if we look at our own example [in James], then you’re looking at an MVP player in every respect. Which is not new news to anyone.”
