Cavaliers would have targeted Thibodeau if they fired Blatt in 2015 offseason

Word of the Cleveland Cavaliers firing coach Dave Blatt spread quickly Friday afternoon.

“We’re just a team that we’re a bit fragile at times”, James said following Saturday’s shootaround, “and we’re still learning each other”. “The only thing I can worry about is how I can get these guys better prepared and we can play better basketball”. “But I congratulate him, a wonderful man and a talented coach, on all his accomplishments, and wish him well in the future”.

“This was one where I didn’t need to ask them, because I’ve watched them interact with each other for a very long period of time under a lot of different circumstances”.

Bothered by a lack of cohesion and chemistry in the Cavs, general manager David Griffin fired Blatt, a surprising move that came just days after Cleveland suffered a humiliating 34-point home loss to the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

Earlier, Griffin disputed the notion that James was part of the franchise’s decision-making process regarding Blatt, saying the four-time MVP “doesn’t run this organization”.

Center Pau Gasol had 25 points and 10 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls beat the Cavaliers 96-83 on Saturday in the Cavaliers’ first game under their new coach.

First, though, it was new coach Tyronn Lue’s turn to address the shocking developments of the past 24 hours in Cleveland. I know what something that’s not right looks like, and I believe this was the right decision to make.

Replacing Blatt is Tyronn Lue, a former player and assistant for the Cavs.

“Me and ‘Bron were friends before when I played”.

Lue has a reputation for understanding how to manage personalities and is said to have full support in the Cavs locker room, and LeBron James in particular.

Hornets’ Zeller out • Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said center Cody Zeller would not play Saturday against the New York Knicks and could be “out for a little bit” with a strained right shoulder. Lue called out all 3 of those players for asking for early substitutions, throwing off the young coaches plan for their rotation, inhibiting his gameplan.

Blatt said all these things to his players, as Lue said, but the theory is Lue will be a better communicator.

James heads into this game leading the Cavaliers in scoring, rebounds and shooting percentage this season. Or would you keep Fisher and not try to get better coaches like Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich type coaches who can coach but are not afraid to tell their players when they are being unprofessional and not afraid to speak their mind?