Like most kids growing up near Boston, David Blatt lived and breathed the Celtics

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Like most kids growing up near Boston, David Blatt lived and breathed the Celtics. Tramon Williams Packers Jersey . They were his team, the only team. Pressing a transistor radio against his ear, Blatt listened as legendary announcer Johnny Most described how Bill Russell grabbed rebounds and when John Havlicek "stole the ball!" At an early age, he was hooked on hoops. "I kind of had that NBA dream in my ear and in my heart," Blatt said. And now, its back in his life. Blatt was introduced Wednesday as the new coach of the Cavaliers, a team in transition as it prepares to select first in the NBA draft and make a strong run at LeBron James, the soon-to-be free agent who has several other teams making moves to try and get him. Blatt spent the past two decades in Israel, where he developed into a top international coach. Now, after winning numerous titles across Europe and guiding Russia to a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics, Blatt is ready to take on the challenge of coaching on pro basketballs biggest stage. It was time to make the jump, and the Cavs helped Blatts overseas leap. "Absolutely its a challenge," Blatt said of his upcoming transition. "But Ive got to tell you, the game is not so different as people think it is. Its a little bit longer here. Perhaps the level of athleticism and speed all around the court is different. But its not like playing baseball and soccer. Its still the same game." Blatt isnt hung up on labels or perceptions. He doesnt consider himself an Israeli coach, European coach or any type for that matter. He doesnt favouroffence over defence. "Im a basketball coach," he said, "someone who through teaching and working with people and getting the most out of my players and staff has always seen the success of the team as paramount." The Cavaliers spent nearly six weeks looking for their third coach in three years before hiring Blatt, who recently resigned as coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv, a squad he led to this years Euroleague title. Cavs general manager David Griffin said Blatt was one of "five or six" candidates who had full-blown interviews and the club contacted as many as 11 coaches. "Hes truly the embodiment of every characteristic we most sought in a coach," Griffin said. "Hes a guy who has passion, creativity and intelligence. As a coach, hes able to adjust in ways that make him special because of those things. He lives those things as a man as well. Because of all that, the players all feel him in a very powerful way. David is an authentic leader." The team hired finalist Tyronn Lue as an associate head coach under Blatt. Blatt understands theres a responsibility that comes with being the first at anything. He believes other European coaches are as qualified to coach in the NBA, but hes the one getting the chance. "I know Im carrying the torch, and I hope like hell I dont drop it," he said. "I dont plan to. It does mean a great deal." Blatt was charming, convincing and self-effacing during a 30-minute news conference at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Blatt said he had previous chances to come to the NBA, but the timing wasnt right. "Somebody told me the reason I did it is because I missed Boston lobster and macaroni and cheese," he cracked. "Theres something to that, honestly." Blatt is taking over a team that went 33-49 last season and underachieved for Mike Brown, who was fired on May 12, ending his second stint in Cleveland. Blatt believes the Cavs have the pieces to be a contender, and that its up to him to put them together. And that would be the case in any country. "I find a group of guys that want to be coached, that want to learn, that care about winning," he said. "Those are things I have to emphasize with them, that I have to strengthen and help them understand the right way to do it. "Ive coached enough great players in my life to know when guys are happy playing together and are seeing that doing it the right way brings and fosters the spirit you need to win, it doesnt make a difference where you coach." Blatt feels hes finally where he belongs. He had a great run overseas, but it was time to come back to where he started. It was time to come home. "I was happy and fulfilled in what I was doing," he said. "But I never, for a moment, lost the hope that I would come full circle and make my way back to the places where I grew up and to be part of something that was so much a part of me." Josh Jackson Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Jimmy Graham Packers Jersey . Beckham finished 2 for 4, adding a double in the first inning. Chicago has won eight of 12 to get back to .500 (27-27). The White Sox are 6-3 against Cleveland this season after losing 17 of 19 to their American League Central rival in 2013. Mike Aviles went 1 for 2 with a walk and drove in Clevelands run. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Jmon-Moore-Packers-Jersey/ .com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown.GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Minnesota Wild were reeling. The Phoenix Coyotes were rolling. Then the teams met Saturday night and everything turned around. Zach Parise scored two of Minnesotas three third-period goals and the Wild rallied to beat the Coyotes 3-1 on Saturday night in a game with important playoff implications. "We need to use this as a game we can kind of springboard something off of," Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said. "Weve had enough games where there have been some bad feelings afterward. Lets use this as one that hopefully we can build something off of." Phoenix nursed a 1-0 lead through two periods on Mikkel Boedkers early power-play goal, but the Coyotes went 24 minutes, 28 seconds without a shot. After giving up five goals in each of its previous two games, Minnesotas defence was outstanding with Ilya Bryzgalov in net. Parise tied it from the top of the circle off a faceoff 8:03 into the final period, and then came Jared Spurgeons slap shot from the top of the right circle with 7:03 to play. Parise added an empty-net goal in the final minute. The Coyotes would have moved ahead of Minnesota into seventh with a victory." "We cant let them come out in the third and let them score two and an empty-net goal," Boedker said. "Thats not how we do it around here, and obviously this was a good opportunity for us to jump up to seventh, but thats the way it goes." The Wild pulled three points ahead of Phoenix for the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference. The Coyotes are just a point ahead of Dallas for the No. 8 spot. The Stars won at St. Louis 4-2 Saturday. "Its going to be like that," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. "It is why you cant get too high right now and you cant get too low. ... Its like a playoff series. You forget the one you just played and move on whether you won or lost." Minnesotas win also clinched a playoff berth for the Chicago Blackhhawks, the defending Stanley Cup champions. Jaire Alexander Packers Jersey. The Wild won for only the second time in six games and fourth time in 12 games. Phoenix, just back from a three-game trip east, lost for just the third time in eight games. Bryzgalov, 3-0-2 as a starter since being acquired by the Wild in a trade deadline deal from Edmonton, had 21 saves for Minnesota. "A lot of this goes to Bryz. Its 1-0 and he makes and unbelievable glove save in the second period and keeps it at 1-0," Yeo said. "Thats an important one." Thomas Greiss had 27 for Phoenix, without their usual goalie Mike Smith due to injury. Just 2:28 into the game, Minnesota was penalized for too many men on the ice. Forty-eight seconds later, Shane Doans close-range shot deflected off Boedkers leg into the net, the power-play goal giving Phoenix a quick 1-0 lead. It was Boedkers team-high eighth first-period goal of the season and his 19th overall. Each team also killed a penalty in the second period. The Coyotes didnt get a shot from the time Doan missed with 7:49 to play in the second period until Radim Vrbadas with 1:56 left in the game. Minnesota finally tied it off a face off on a shot by Parise from the top of the circle and it was 1-1 with 11:57 to play. It was a set play, Parise said. "Weve tried that before," he said. "Its just never worked." Spurgeons powerful slap shot sailed past Greiss high into the net to put the Wild ahead. Doan disputed stats on the long span without a Phoenix shot, blaming it on the scorer. "It wasnt that long between shots," Doan said. "The guy just doesnt keep track very well." The Wild had three penalty kills after the Coyotes power play goal. Notes: The Wild won the season series 2-1 and would have the tiebreaker. ... The Coyotes are 13-5-0 when Boedker scores a goal. ... Minnesota didnt have a power play until there was 5:17 left in the second period. Youth NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Throwback Jerseys Disocunt Football Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys ' ' '