It’s a truism in professional sports that you have to put in your time. Nothing comes easy. It can take years to find the path, and only the fortunate get to the promised land. And then there is this year’s NBA Finals, featuring two coaches who had never coached an NBA franchise before this season. Either Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors or David Blatt of the Cleveland Cavaliers will become the first rookie coach to win a championship in Pat Riley guided the Magic-Kareem 1982 Los Angeles Lakers.
By any measure, David Blatt, has had a successful first season. Sometimes derided for the Cavs slow start and his self-admitted “learning curve,” Blatt’s Cavaliers are the Eastern Conference champs with a chance at a ring. (Can’t do much better.) Speaking of rings, Steve Kerr has five of them — thanks to guys named Jordan and Duncan–and he could add a sixth if Golden State simply plays as they have all season, when Kerr set a record for wins by a rookie coach. The NBA Finals beings on June 4 on ABC.
