Tyronn Lue on coaching the Cavs: “It's the hardest job, by far”

Things have gone pretty good for Tyronn Lue since he took over as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In about a year and a half since taking over, he won an NBA Championship in his first season as head coach, has 21-5 record in the playoffs and a lucrative five-year contract. Plus, coaching LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love doesn’t hurt.

Despite all the success, Lue expressed how difficult the job can be in an interview with Dave McMenamin on ESPN’s NBA Lockdown Podcast. The transcription can be found here:

It's the hardest job. But I've been through a lot of tough things in my life anyway, and I just try not to listen to the outside noise -- to the media and what they have to say. As long as I have the support of [Cavs general manager] David Griffin, [principal owner] Dan Gilbert, my players, the city of Cleveland, the state of Ohio, as long as I have that support, that's all that matters.

I don't like the media attention. That's why this job is just so tough because you're out in front all the time," Lue said. "It's tough because whatever you say, if you say one wrong thing -- especially leading this team -- it goes viral. It's a big deal. That's why in the huddles, a lot of times when we're miked up, I never say anything. When the camera comes over there and they're all like, you got to talk to the team like, 'You gotta [this and that]!' Our team? They don't want to hear that anyway.

The aversion to the spotlight isn’t something new for Lue, as he’s expressed his preference towards flying under the radar. This, of course, is a large contrast to the David Blatt tenure, where every press conference was a spectacle.

Overall, I feel Lue has been impressive in his time with the Cavaliers. Some have taken exception to him resting players, as well as the lackadaisical approach to the regular season. But with the front office, players, and Lue being on board with this approach, it’s hard to say that anybody is at fault for it. It’s been a conscious decision, rather than a failing on his part.

When it comes to playoffs, the Cavs look prepared once again. While there were hiccups against the Indiana Pacers, the game plan seemed solid and the Cavs looked like the better prepared team in their Game 1 win over the Toronto Raptors.

So, while Lue’s comments are understandable, it’s hard to imagine someone doing a much better job given the circumstances. With a roster full of personalities, having a low-key coach that connects with the players is truly a perfect fit.