Cleveland Cavaliers: Tyronn Lue has to go at season’s end
Tyronn Lue’s days could be numbered with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s been a struggle for him and his coaching staff this year getting the team on the right track. Is this his last season?
The Cleveland Cavaliers must get rid of Tyronn Lue at the end of the season. It’s just that time.
This would be the second time a championship coach in the NBA could get relieved of his duties.
Most recently, Larry Brown won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. However, in 2005 he was released from the team due to rumors of him talking with other clubs. There are some other examples of coaches that left their championship situations.
Phil Jackson left the Chicago Bulls after Michael Jordan retired in 1998. Pat Riley left the Los Angeles Lakers in 1990. Doc Rivers was actually traded to the Los Angeles Clippers from the Boston Celtics in 2013 for a first round pick.
I have been one of Lue’s harshest critics on here within my articles and on my podcast. Since day one, I believed that he was in over his head with the job.
It not only takes a special coach, but it also takes a special person to deal with numerous personalities on a daily/nightly basis–especially with one as strong as LeBron James.
He just doesn’t seem to be the one to handle them anymore.
Once David Blatt got fired in 2016, the team was handed to Lue on a silver platter. He was given a team that had championship aspirations. Heck, he even challenged James during the postseason to step his play up, and it worked to perfection.
It seems like that version of him has disappeared in the last two years. The fire and hunger that was there is…well…gone.
It’s not unusual for this to happen with coaches, it is also the reason players decide to retire as well. They just don’t have the motivation to play the game at a high level anymore. Professional sports take a toll on the mind and body.
However, it’s not just one thing with Lue, it’s everything. When knowledgeable NBA fans start noticing obvious things that a head coach isn’t doing, there’s a problem.
For example, center Ante Zizic was one of the players the Cavs acquired from the Celtics in the Kyrie Irving trade. He was immediately sent down to the G League to work on his game. He played sporadically throughout the season, but he was ready to have a bigger role within the rotation.
Since Tristan Thompson injured his ankle and Zizic stepped in, he’s averaged 8.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He’s also shooting 86 percent from the field. Thompson has struggled for most of the season and it’s showed.
In the two games he’s played in March, he was only shooting 50 percent. Zizic shot 5-for-6 in his first two games in March. Cavaliers fans can only imagine how much better he would be at this point if he were getting significant playing time in the NBA.
Why is it media and fans can see the better player, but Lue can’t?
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I always think the real character of a coach shows during adversity — mainly during the postgame interview. Since Lue was the head coach of the Cavs, I don’t think I’ve seen him call out any player or take the blame for a loss or situation. It’s either “I don’t know,” or ” I don’t remember.”
Not every coach is going to be full of fire, yell and scream after each loss, but it’s not bad to have that sometimes. It reminds the players not to take their kindness for any sort of weakness.
The biggest thing that bothers me with Lue is his inability to stand up for his team. He never received a technical foul in his 10-year career. That’s great, but it might not be the best decision to carry that into your coaching career.
Most players love when their coach gets a technical foul. It shows that they’re on the same page with them, and that they have their players’ backs. It might even be the difference of who wins or loses the games.
Lue won’t do that.
LeBron James will get hacked going to the basket, or Rodney Hood could get fouled on a 3-point shot attempt, and he’ll look the other way. He won’t even challenge an obvious call. I understand arguing with the officials is like talking to a wall sometimes, but from a team aspect, it’s respected.
There can’t be a worst feeling than knowing your coach doesn’t have your back during a controversial call. It’s every man for themselves — just like the team plays on a nightly basis.
The cohesion isn’t there at all. It doesn’t seem like he runs many plays, or has many sets for the Cavs. It shouldn’t be as hard as it is for Kyle Korver, J.R. Smith, Hood and Kevin Love to get their shots off.
It’s quick and easy floor-spacing and ball movement. I don’t know if Lue is stressing this to them, but it hasn’t been implemented in many games this season. The team rarely practices, so it’s hard to build any kind of chemistry.
That’s on Lue. He should have more practices when he sees that basic fundamental things aren’t being done by his team.
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He also has the worst rotations and lineups I’ve seen from a coach. When the Cavs won 13 games in a row, Channing Frye was a big part of the energy from the bench. He was able to spread the floor along with Korver and teams had no clue who to guard.
When Thompson came back, he took Frye completely out of the rotation, inserted Thompson, and the rotation struggled to find the impact it had. The losses also piled up.
Lue didn’t realize that Thompson stops ball movement since his game is inside. An opposing center and forward can just wait and play defense on him.
Frye was able to play inside and outside, and opposing defenders were kept honest. Most centers aren’t going to go out and guard the perimeter. It’s simple one-on-one basics, and he didn’t realize it.
He has a fascination with small lineups as well. The Cavaliers are one of the smallest teams in the NBA. The tallest player on the team is Zizic at 6’11”. In the game Thursday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, Lue started Jeff Green, who has been struggling the whole month at center.
He would be going up against seven-footer Jusuf Nurkic. Green is only 6’9″.
Larry Nance Jr. is the original starter, but he was out due to hamstring issues. Zizic, who is the biggest player on the Cavaliers, only played a total of six minutes. He’s played 25 minutes total in his last two games, but in this game against a center he could match up with, he played six minutes.
That’s absurd and mindless coaching.
The Cavaliers got destroyed inside as well. They only managed two offensive rebounds compared to Portland’s 13. It got so bad that James and Lue got into an argument on the bench.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/974501555079704576
It’s pure frustration. Frustration over the beginning of the season, the trades, the injuries, the locker room drama, the James leaving rumors and the toxic coaching.
It’s insanity that a team this talented struggles on the defensive side of the ball on a nightly basis, and nothing has been done to change it. Even Mike D’Antoni‘s Phoenix Suns teams played better defense, and it wasn’t their focus.
He isn’t the man for the team anymore. It’s time to go.
I think a new voice will do wonders for this team. It will bring out the best in the younger players, and even James — if he needs any more motivation. Yes, I do believe he’s staying no matter the outcome of this season. I’ve stated that numerous times within my articles.
My top candidates would be Mark Jackson and David Fizdale. I know those are obvious choices, but I could see them turning things around quickly for the franchise.
Fizdale was an assistant coach to James when he was with the Miami Heat, and Jackson, who played a big part in the Golden State Warriors being relevant again, would get a second chance to build on a potential great career.
My fear is that owner Dan Gilbert will go the college route if he fires Lue. He’s been linked to Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats was another rumor a few years back.
Either way, I do think this is Lue’s last year as the head coach of the Cavaliers. I think he still needs more molding and experience before he decides to get another opportunity.
Next: 2017-18 Week 22 NBA Power Rankings
Thank you for helping with the championship run, but it’s time for a change in Cleveland.