featured-image

Joe G's Practice Notebook (9/27)

There aren’t too many question marks for this Cavaliers squad heading into Training Camp. The talent level is as high as it’s been in franchise history, can compare with any current team in the league, and is loaded with veteran leadership.

But there are some queries surrounding the Wine and Gold as Camp tipped off on Saturday. One was how new head coach David Blatt would fare on his first day. The other – slightly more long-term – is about the Cavs’ backup big man situation.

Blatt was one of the most successful coaches in recent Euroleague history, putting up big win totals in three different countries – including international powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv – before being hired by the Cavs in late June. He’s yet to get his first win in the NBA, but after one day of practice, his new charges came away impressed.

”(Blatt) looks poised, he looks like he’s ready to lead us,” praised Kevin Love. “And everybody was very attentive. We all spoke before practice, we all spoke after Media Day and we’re ready to hit the ground running. We want to continue to get better, and today was a step in the right direction.”

“(Blatt’s) very efficient, doesn’t like to repeat himself too much,” added LeBron James. “He threw some stuff at us today, (we’re) kind of learning on the fly. He wanted to see how we can comprehend it and make it happen from there, but I think everyone was attentive. We made mistakes. But obviously it’s the first day, everybody makes mistakes, and we’re trying to figure them out. But it was a good first day.”

Coach Blatt stated during Media Day that he was looking forward to “putting some simple things in at both ends of the court (and) getting good at those things.” On Saturday afternoon, that’s what they did.

”(We worked on) defensive principles, rebounding. More than anything else, we just wanted to set the tone for a serious, working environment where everybody’s focused. And I think we succeeded in that.”

Although Blatt’s saving the first two-a-day practice schedule for Sunday, LeBron stated that he’ll be returning to the gym on his own a little later in the afternoon. James also had the line of the day, when asked if it’ll be difficult to coach stars like himself, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.

LeBron responded: “Or, he could have the alternative and NOT have me, Kevin and Kyrie.”

Blatt also addressed the second question mark – the health of Brendan Haywood in terms of the backup center spot behind Anderson Varejao. Haywood, a 12-year veteran, missed the entire 2013-14 season with a stress fracture in his left foot. But according to his new coach, looked good in his first day of practice.

”Brendan did a great job (today),” said Blatt. “Our medical staff has worked long and hard with him and he has really, really made an effort to do everything that we’ve asked of him in order to get back on the floor playing. Brendan went through the whole practice today. That was not expected two months ago or even a month ago. I’m cautiously optimistic. But that was one of the real positives from today.”

Haywood – who, along with Shawn Marion, won an NBA title with the Mavericks in 2011 – is one of the players the Cavs will look to this season for leadership both on and off the floor. He described the team’s interesting mix on Friday afternoon.

“Typically teams that are very young don't win because they don't know what winning is all about,” said the seven-footer. “So when you have a team full of young and old guys, you have the mix of young guys with that youthful bounce and exuberance, and you have the old guys that have been through the wars and know what to do from a mentality standpoint.”

Haywood and Co. will hit the hardwood on Sunday morning as Camp rolls on – with the Wine and Gold Scrimmage set for Wednesday night and a matchup with Maccabi Tel Aviv one week away.