David Blatt is a former NBA coach

[wuck]

When is the last time a Cavs player said that the offensive system is mentally challenging?

I can't wait to see it in action, even if starts off sloppy. Even the summer-leaguers were able to look pretty competent.

 

[oracio]

Here it is in "That Guy" words himself :

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

It's refreshingly different to hear about a mentally challenging offense and not immediately thinking about Mike Brown's inept coaching ability.

 

[MirORich]

The Bullshit Whisperer actually botched the quote completely. LeBron is saying its the opposite of what he's played with much of his NBA career, where you just spread the floor out or clear out one side for him and then just "free-flow".

And obviously quite an indictment on Mike Brown and Spo to an extent, to say that this is the most challenging and, read/react offense he's played in since High School. Although to be fair, the way LeBron's coaches have had him play in the past has worked out pretty well to date in his career.

Very excited to see the kind of mismatches and easy offense Blatt's offense can create for such a talented offensive group of players

 

[castor777]

I'm hoping this means gone are the days of LeIso, and hopefully we see an offense that moves around enough to put every defensive player on their heels. To think LeBron, Irving, Waiters, and Love would all be constantly moving and they attack once they see a defensive collapse is what I want to envision.

 

[AmirT0]

Looking at LBJ's interview from after practice today it seems like he realizes Blatt's offensive system might be the real deal but it is not geared for dummies. It will require major adjustment from how he used to play the last few years. I hope TT, Dion and Kyrie can figure it out. If Miller with all his experience chose "borderline genius" to describe it I hope the coaching stuff will be able to install it and adjust it to the NBA game.
I also hope LeBron will remember how it felt when Popovich ran his lawnmower on him and will give Blatt's system a chance.

 

[PriceFan14]

It's also a good thing that seing what Spurs did to them in Finals with a free-flowing offence makes LeBron and other players to play in this system willingly. It clears the air, moves away the doubt at least.

 

[MirORich]

We're totally taking "free flowing" out of context because of The Bullshit Whisperer's misquote on Twitter.

Free flow describes the old Mike Brown and Heat Iso based offenses where LeBron initiates at the top of the key and people stand around on the free throw line or move around on their own volition but with no real play in mind and waited for LeBron(or Wade in some cases) to either shoot or dish after drawing a second or third defender.

LeBron was saying this new offense, much like the Spurs, is not "free-flow", but rather read and react with lots of counter branches of the tree for each player to do do depending on how the defense reacts to a first set or motion.

Free flowing may sound like a nice term but its not what LeBron trying to describe the Blatt system as at all. This system is tons of motion, counters, picks, screens, spacing, etc. Instead of the coach calling one specific play that will result in one specific shot, a play will get called and there will be tons of different read and react options, predicated my match ups and how the defense responds.

edit: just re-listened to the whole LeBron post practice video at full volume on Cavs.com
It's tricky and I see where The Bullshit Whisperer interpreted it the way he did.

To start the interview, Bron does describe this offense as "free flowing". The a few minutes in, when someone asks him if its like any other offense hes been in, he says that its the most challenging since high school and says its not "just coming up the floor and free flowing...."
I think he maybe meant to say "freestyling" as a way to describe ISO offense and offense run with him strictly as the initiator.

In any event, my apologies to SamAm. All the Cavs.com interviews today are great(Mike Miller, LeBron, and Blatt)

 

[brownsbuck6]

We're totally taking "free flowing" out of context because of The Bullshit Whisperer's misquote on Twitter.

Free flow describes the old Mike Brown and Heat Iso based offenses where LeBron initiates at the top of the key and people stand around on the free throw line or move around on their own volition but with no real play in mind and waited for LeBron(or Wade in some cases) to either shoot or dish after drawing a second or third defender.

LeBron was saying this new offense, much like the Spurs, is not "free-flow", but rather read and react with lots of counter branches of the tree for each player to do do depending on how the defense reacts to a first set or motion.

Free flowing may sound like a nice term but its not what LeBron trying to describe the Blatt system as at all. This system is tons of motion, counters, picks, screens, spacing, etc. Instead of the coach calling one specific play that will result in one specific shot, a play will get called and there will be tons of different read and react options, predicated my match ups and how the defense responds.

Agree with all of this.. and I do think about the Spurs offense in the finals that we all witnessed when this is discussed. That is an extremely veteran team where the coach and the main stars have been together a long, long time now. And the culmination of that was the best NBA offense I've ever seen last June.

I think it's safe to say that it won't come together for the Cavs right away to, really, anywhere close to that degree. I think initially it'll be superior talent, along with this new offense with some warts at first, will win games and maybe even a championship for this team and city.

What is most exciting is that in time, given the talent, coaching and ownership, we may supplant the Spurs as the next extended dynasty in this league. Win 5 or 6 titles over the next decade. Be in the conversation for one of the all time teams. I think Blatt, and obviously the players on the team, bring THAT much potential.

I just think that in the extreme short term there may be some bumps. I hope the intelligent fans recognize that and stay strong.

 

[Ohio]

The casual fan probably thinks it's a High School freelance offense

 

[e0y2e3]

I am really, really, really, excited about Blatt, but people here need to stop making things up about Spo.

Spo is going to go to a more read and react offense this year because LeBron is gone. The pick and roll heavy "pace and space" attack they ran last year was largely built for LeBron so he could play 1-4 on both sides of the ball.

Spo is a very good NBA coach and people here just come off standoffish and petulant when they talk down about his skills.

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/09/26/erik-spoelstra-miami-heat

 

[TyGuy]

I like how that article makes it seem like it is such a burden to have LeBron James. "Some ride, aye? Now you can get back to coaching." Yes, Spo can now get back to coaching now that he is freed from the shackles of Lebron James.

 

[westsidebob]

When is the last time a Cavs player said that the offensive system is mentally challenging?

.

Anthony Bennett
Jarrett Jack
CJ Miles
Samardo Samuels
Ramon Sessions


However, in Lebron's case, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, since he's got a basketball IQ over room temperature.

 

[Adam]

After watching the clip post practice its pretty clear lebron implied the others would find it challenging. So that makes sense, it will be interesting to watch wednesdays scrimmage just to see some glimpses of the offense. If i was a betting man in the regular season i would expect there to be a set with love and lebron at the top of the 3 point line with andy in the high post and dion and kyrie on the wings, just makes too much sense and so many options with Kloves range and passing.

 

[DatDudeZ3]

Guys, the Cavs' players will be able to figure it out if the lesser players overseas can figure it out, trust me.