BySimon Griver, Simon Griver
David Blatt has steered Cleveland Cavaliers into the semi-finals of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs.
The Cavs beat the Boston Celtics 4-0 in the seven-game series in the first round of the playoffs to set up a meeting with the Chicago Bulls or Milwaukee Bucks.
The win over the Celtics was a homecoming for Blatt who grew up in Boston before graduating from Princeton and immigrating to Israel.
Having steered the Cavs into the playoffs for the first time since 2010, the former Maccabi Tel Aviv coach says the hard work starts now, with his team favourites to reach the finals.
Blatt said: “I’m still in the process of learning and working hard to be the best coach I can be in this league.
"It's special to have my three daughters from Israel to watch the playoffs, but my son remains in Israel to play basketball."
Tamir Blatt, 17, was recently named captain of Israel’s under-18 basketball team. He will visit the USA in June with fellow Israeli Mohammed Abu Arissa. The pair have been selected to take part in an NBA camp in Virginia for the world’s most promising young players.