12-30-2019, 02:52 AM
CLEVELAND -- David Blatt went overseas to chase his basketball dreams. Carolina Hurricanes Pro Shop . Hes coming back to fulfil them. One of Europes top coaches, Blatt was hired Friday by the Cavaliers, who ended a sweeping, 39-day search with an out-of-the-box selection they hope changes their fortunes. American-born, Princeton-schooled and considered one of the games brightest offensive minds, the 55-year-old Blatt has long been interested in coaching in the NBA and the Cavs will give him his first shot. The club signed him to a reported three-year deal that includes a team option for a fourth year. Cleveland contacted high-profile college coaches and interviewed both retreaded head coaches and on-the-rise assistants before zeroing in and landing Blatt, who won several European titles while coaching in Israel and guided Russia to a bronze medal at the London Olympics two years ago. "David Blatt is going to bring some of the most innovative approaches found in professional basketball anywhere on the globe," Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said. "Time and time again, from Russia to Israel and several other prominent head coaching jobs in between, David has done one thing: win. He is not only an innovator, well-trained and focused on both sides of the court, but he is always learning and always teaching. "Whether you are a top draft pick just entering the league, or a seasoned NBA veteran, Coach Blatt is going to take your game and the game of the team you are playing for to a new and higher level. Thats just who the man is and we are proud to call him our new head coach." Blatt will be introduced by the team Wednesday, one day before the club picks first in this years NBA draft. Clevelands third coach in three years, Blatt replaces Mike Brown, who was fired -- for the second time -- on May 12, a few weeks after the Cavs finished 33-49 and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Blatt was not believed to be on Clevelands radar early in its search, but that changed when he resigned at Maccabi Tel Aviv to pursue an NBA gig. Blatt also was coveted as an assistant by Golden State and Minnesota, but the Cavs made him the first European coach to make the jump to the NBA. "David is a great basketball coach and a special person," said Cavs general manager David Griffin. "His abilities to communicate, to build relationships with his players and to foster winning environments at several stops throughout Europe and across the highest levels of International competition speak for itself. He brings unbridled passion, energy and creativity to his craft. "I have watched Davids work for many years. He has an uncanny ability to adapt his system to maximize the talents of his teams year after year. That is why I am very confident he will make a smooth transition to the NBA." Hurricanes Jerseys China . First, Ivan Nova decided to have season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery. Then Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games for using pine tar. Hurricanes Jerseys 2021 . No, the San Antonio star didnt announce retirement plans during an off day at the NBA Finals on Wednesday. https://www.cheaphurricanes.com/ . In the opener of the World Group first-round series, world No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont.When the teams were announced, the pre-match chatter was all about the Brazilians. No Oscar for Chelsea. Left on the bench. Willian to play his role centrally. No Fernandinho for Manchester City. Out injured. David Luiz back for Chelsea. In central midfield. And then there was the other Samba Boy. Mr Reliable, Ramires, an automatic name in the starting XI but whose position and role was far from automatic. Less than two hours after kick-off, Chelsea had done it. They had become the first team in 62 attempts to stop Manchester City scoring at home in the Premier League. However, this was no dour 0-0, like they ‘accomplished at Manchester United and Arsenal this season. Yes, another clean sheet at a Premier League giant had been secured but this time theyd won; Branislav Ivanovic scoring the games only goal in the 32nd minute. It was fitting that the game was decided by a goal on Chelseas right side. Fitting also that had come from a counter-attack. A wonderfully stretched game, particularly in the first half, saw both teams crave and find space and when Ivanovic powered home the goal, just 34 seconds earlier, Jesus Navas was dancing in the other penalty area trying to ignite another City chance. In between, arguably the games best player, Eden Hazard had glided from one flank to the other to pin City deep; Ramires had sprinted from deep to have a shot blocked; the exact block that rebounded out to the Serbian defender to blast home. Five minutes earlier, the Chelsea counter-attackers had had an even better chance, once again starting deep in their own end, where Ramires faced Navas one-on-one in the box. Seconds later, Alvaro Negredo gave the ball away and Willian started a four-on-one attack that finished with Ramires (once again) sticking his jetpack on and sprinting into the box to hit a shot wonderfully saved by Joe Hart. Willian had made the wrong decision, an all too familiar story for the Chelsea counter-attackers, and instead should have played in Samuel Etoo, but, much like at Arsenal in December, the wrong decision was made at a key time and they let their opponents off the hook. Just think what this team could achieve when they do make the right decisions and do have a legitimate force as a striker who they wont think twice about before passing? It was a night of combinations for Chelsea. Nemanja Matic making his first league start since his move from Benfica, was outstanding alongside David Luiz as the pivots in midfield. Gary Cahill and John Terry made England fans wonder if the Chelsea skipper just might come out of international retirement for a trip to Brazil. Willian and Hazard were electrifying on the ball and much improved without it. It was the kind of night that elevated the Belgian to another level. Earlier this season, Jose Mourinho said it best of Hazard: “The quality we know, his talent we all know, but his ambition, the way he looks at a match, sometimes it is a little up and down, sometimes he waits for the game to give him conditions to succeed.” On a rainy night in Manchester, Hazard waited for nothing. It waas his night to shine. Wholesale Hurricanes Jerseys. Many have been too quick to elevate him to world class status but consistent performances in this manner will take him there soon enough. A football field containing other geniuses such as David Silva and Yaya Toure, became the garden of Eden when the world was watching. And that is why Chelseas victory was worth much more than three points. It is easy to forget Hazard is only 23 and has played very few big games in his career. This is a team that is much different to the one that won the Champions League in 2012 and, even, the Europa League last May. It is a team that Mourinho is building to become winners but to do that they must learn how to win together. This is the biggest win their attacking unit has accomplished. Only Luiz, Gary Cahill and Petr Cech beat Bayern Munich to be crowned European champions while that trio were joined by Cesar Azpilicueta and Ramires in the win over Benfica in Amsterdam. That night Ramires played on the right side of midfield, just as he did on Monday against City. So often used in central midfield, the 26-year-olds versatility was once again leaned on by his manager and he rewarded him with a performance at the highest level. Putting the Brazilian on the right didnt completely stop the enormous threat City pose with overlaps down the flanks but it certainly prevented them from trying it often. Citys 4-4-2 is more a 4-2-2-2 with Silva and Navas playing a little more central, allowing full backs to go beyond them. It has been a shape that has destroyed teams this season. Not Chelsea. The positioning of Ramires meant Ivanovic, more than comfortable as a centre back, often came narrower because he had the Brazilian to play right back without the ball. In attack, the pair could combine well also. Ivanovic rarely gets forward under Mourinho but with Ramires alongside him, he was able to do so, which paid off on the goal. Higher up the pitch, Ramires also slotted in central positions to make up a three in midfield and help prevent City playing through the middle while causing transitions, he often got on the end of. It was the kind of performance few will talk of. The stats show little of what he did, Hazard will rightly get the attention and Mourinho will dominate the headlines but without the football intelligence and incredible engine that Ramires provided, Chelsea could just have been another team carved open by a ruthless Manchester City. “We have six players for these positions. The three players behind the striker give me chances, as a manager, to change from match-to-match, depending on the opponent, the game plan. It is based on these three players how we create our football,” said Mourinho back in August. Back then it was about picking between Oscar, Juan Mata, Hazard, Willian, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre Schurrle. Ramires once again was not on anyones radar for those positions. For a player who is so typically non-Brazilian the low profile suits him but once again in another big game it was just too difficult to let him go unnoticed. ' ' '