David Blatt believes he can turn Cleveland Cavaliers from nearly men into winners ahead of the new NBA season.
Blatt enjoyed a remarkable first year, taking the Cavs to the final. Now he is looking to go one better ahead of next week’s opener against the Chicago Bulls.
"I didn’t always realise how much I had to learn about the game here,” said Blatt. “I did go through that and I feel that
I’m starting the season in a much better place and certainly more confident in understanding the things that I need to do."
US-born and a former Princeton basketball player, Blatt joined the NBA after winning the European Cup with Maccabi Tel Aviv and leading Russia to bronze at the London Olympics.
The Cavs made a slow start last season and it is believed the club were considering sacking the Israeli last December. But a dramatic improvement in form saw the Cavs win the Eastern Conference and reach the finals. Most crucially Blatt seemed to strike up a working relationship with star player LeBron James.
"You’re talking about coaching arguably the greatest player this game has ever known, and that relationship is always evolving,” said Blatt.
"It's something you sort of work at every single day, and find the right ways for us both to help this team come to the place we want to bring it to."
Israel’s Omri Casspi begins a new two-year contract with the Sacramento Kings having finished last season in the best form of his five years in the NBA.