Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 major differences following coaching change

1. Coach wants more control

On the surface, Lue appeared laid back. While in Cleveland, LeBron James appreciated his steady hand and sense of zen. Drew won’t rule with an iron first or bark from the sidelines like a Marine sergeant — like, say, Tom Thibodeau — but he will be more stern than Lue.

In a not-so-passive aggressive move, Drew refused to call himself an “interim head coach,” demanding a title with more stability at an opening press conference. It was a major foot down moment for Drew. Potentially, it indicates he will have a “my way or the highway” attitude.

Regardless, Lue wasn’t like that. He generally accepted instructions from a haughty front office. He was, to an extent, refreshingly passive in his handling of the media. Lue even sometimes let his own players try their hand at coaching.

Don’t expect that from Drew. By no means is he a loose cannon, but the Cavs’ interim(?) head coach will likely rule with, if not an iron fist, a tin one.

That’s assuming Drew remains with the team even in the immediate future. ESPN reports the Cavs might bring in a coach from the outside with Drew and the franchise in a stalemate over his status.

It’s confusing. It’s convoluted. It shows a level of control in Drew that wasn’t ever apparent in Lue. And even if the Cavs and Drew part ways, his replacement will likely want more say than Lue had.