just curious as to what Windhorst heard from Blatt that suggested arrogance.
I think it's that Blatt dismissed media critiques of the Cavs lack of proper use of Love (as well as not listening to the isolation talk).
Now, both media critiques are true -- there has been a lot of isolation and the Cavs aren't consistently using Love properly. But I think that Windhorst is making the story more about the media/Blatt, when some of the story is about Blatt and his players.
Blatt has consistently dismissed the Love chatter. You can say it's because he's arrogant and won't listen to media criticism. I think Blatt appreciates what Love has been doing (even if his shot has been off). He has been protecting Love for weeks and saying things, including tonight, that seem intended for Love to hear. But he also said recently that it was unacceptable (as a team) for Love to get 7 shots at the start of the game and not shoot again. I don't think Windhorst was at that presser - not a big game. The team is also on a 12-game streak. It's not the time to criticize his players through the press. It's a good time to keep encouraging Love through the press. Same goes for him calling JR Smith a joy to coach. I mean maybe that's true, maybe it's exaggerated but either way I'm sure JR and David Griffin didn't mind hearing it.
I found the ISO talk interesting, especially about how LeBron in particular took that heart during the day. It would be great for Blatt if the media would ask those sorts of questions more often to the players (they often don't). Not a bad thing to get criticized by the media but not by your coach for doing the things that fans notice as well. It seems like Blatt is taking a half-full approach and he has already said how the offense is a mix of sets and ISOs because he has players who are fantastic at ISOs. But if the media is going to bring up advanced stats to LeBron and point out the ISO percentage, and if the team is going to have a bunch of assists versus the Clippers, I have to believe that Blatt is not going to complain.
I am not saying that Blatt is right about everything. Not at all. But Windhorst is also wrong to imply that Blatt never admits errors - he took individual responsibility for the crappy 3rd-quarter rotations against Philadelphia, but I doubt the national reporters heard about that...
Personally, I enjoy Blatt's pressers even if he doesn't always tell the whole truth. He has made some missteps this year (things players have responded to badly) but he's pretty careful with his words when it comes to a lot of things. If he wants to get some digs in at the media and say "I told you so" a bit during a 12-game winning streak, and if the media thinks that's arrogant, I am willing to excuse a little swagger when things are going well.
What message he's putting out there, and what players think about his comments, matter more to me than what the media thinks, I guess.