Cavaliers getting a taste of LeBron James scrutiny

David Blatt's job as coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers is 100% safe and was never anything less than that, Cavs general manager David Griffin said with conviction and annoyance on Sunday.

"This narrative of our coaching situation is truly ridiculous … It's a non-story, a non-narrative. Coach Blatt is our coach. He's going to remain our coach," Griffin said. "Do not write that as a vote of confidence. He never needed one. It was never a question. So don't write it that way."

A minute later he said, "That narrative is done. No change is being made. Period."

Griffin didn't need to speak with news reporters – though they have clamored to talk to him – but it was the right thing to do for Blatt, who is in first NBA season after a successful career in Europe, for the team struggling at 19-15 and for the franchise that hasn't always been a model of patience and understanding under owner Dan Gilbert.

Griffin was miffed over an ESPN report that suggested Blatt didn't have the full support of players, namely Cavs star LeBron James, who uttered lukewarm support of Blatt, and reports from news outlets in northeast Ohio that Blatt's job security is unstable.

At first, Griffin didn't want to address Blatt's job. But it was ​necessary for Griffin to turn down the volume on the topic and help the Cavs move forward without that distraction.

"I can promise you that is not a narrative that has validity at all nor will it," Griffin said.

Griffin addressed Blatt before a question was asked and said he ultimately felt compelled to speak in an effort to quell the chatter. At first, Griffin didn't want to address Blatt's job. But it was ​necessary for Griffin to turn down the volume on the topic.​​​

"It's such a ridiculous assertion. It seemed giving life to it is what would happen by talking about it. So I didn't want to do that," Griffin said. "At the same time, it's just time for everybody to get on with it. We have a chance to galvanize ourselves and grow and move in a positive direction so I want to make sure we're doing that in a fresh environment."​

Griffin said he listened to the audio of James' comments about Blatt and concluded, "No more than three different times he said 'We're growing together every day, the teams grows together every day and I am happy with who we have at the helm.' But that wasn't a sexy pull-quote so we kept looking for something else until we could pull something that sounded negative."

The Cavaliers are getting a lesson in what the Miami Heat experienced in four year with James. What he says is parsed, what he doesn't say is examined for more meaning and it often creates mini-dramas. It took some time but the Heat figured out how to minimize those distractions. The Cavs are learning now.

But the adage "winning solves everything" has truth, and the Cavs haven't won as often as expected. A championship was never a lock, but on talent alone – James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are All-Stars and Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters are quality players – more than a .545 winning percentage and fifth place in the East was expected.

James tried to get ahead of expectations during preseason and early in the regular season, saying a culture of winning and playing the right way needed to instilled.

The Cavs aren't as deep as originally thought and injuries to Anderson Varejao, Matthew Dellavedova, Kevin Love and James have been significant factors for Cleveland's stunted development. Add defensive struggles, a first-time NBA coach, a difficult schedule and a rebuilt roster, and the Cavs believe that explains a lot.

"We came into the year, and I know it wasn't a sexy story. Growth and development and the long haul is what this is about," Griffin said. "Every member of our organization from top to bottom – ownership, myself, the players, the coaches, LeBron himself – signed on for the long haul."

But patience rarely beats instant gratification, especially with James involved.

"This is a really difficult recipe to get right," Griffin said. "Everybody needs to just settle down and let it happen."