NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Tyronn Lue Defends Kevin Durant

If they are objective enough, NBA coaches can still be supportive of the enemy. According to NBC Sports, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is very supportive of Kevin Durant and his decision to sign with the heavily stacked Golden State Warriors. The Cavaliers and Warriors have done battle in the previous two Finals.

When free agency in the NBA began, very few people thought that Kevin Durant would actually leave the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team has been his home for nearly a decade, and he stood to make the most money by staying put. However, the desire to chase a ring with the Golden State Warriors proved to be too strong for Durant, so he decided to change jerseys.

Kevin Durant signed a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors that is worth approximately $54 million, as reported by ESPN. With a player option for next summer, it is essentially a one-year deal, but Durant will get at least one chance at competing for an NBA title with Stephen Curry.

While touring Greater China, @KDTrey5 still finds time to put in work ? pic.twitter.com/Dlty6mTbJ8

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 16, 2016

When you have a roster with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green, you are going to become the favorites to reach the NBA Finals. It also does not hurt to have a versatile defender like Andre Iguodala sitting on the bench.

The favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference are the Cleveland Cavaliers, the reigning NBA Champions. The Atlanta Hawks have seemingly regressed with the loss of Al Horford in free agency. The Boston Celtics aren’t ready, and the Toronto Raptors appear to be missing something.

Barring any significant injuries, there is a very good chance that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors will meet in the NBA Finals for the third consecutive season. Fortunately for fans, it is a rematch that everyone wants to see.

It will be interesting to see just how supportive Tyronn Lue remains when he is forced to figure out a strategy to stop a Golden State Warriors roster that now includes Kevin Durant. They were already difficult to stop last season, but they are now adding one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA.

Of course, Tyronn Lue is showing how adept he is at public relations. By showing support for Kevin Durant, he’s reminded players that he used to play in the NBA as well. That will bode well for the Cleveland Cavaliers when free agency begins again next summer.

According to ESPN, Kevin Durant averaged more than 28 points a game last season. That number could be a bit lower this season because he will have to share the ball with other scorers. Even with the reduction, Durant is still expected to score more than 20 points a game.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr likes to resort to using smaller lineups to gain advantages over opposing NBA teams. Tyronn Lue will need to figure out how to counter the Warriors when they put Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green on the floor together.

Being able to figure out that complicated puzzle is going to dictate which city gets to have a championship parade. Cleveland Cavaliers fans are hoping that Tyronn Lue can pull it off because they certainly would love to do another celebration after going decades without a single one.

Tyronn Lue did the right thing by publicly supporting Kevin Durant and his decision. He is letting NBA players know that he remembers where he came from. Lue is also showing fans that he is not backing down from a challenge and will do what it takes to win another championship.

[Photo by Thearon W Henderson/Getty Images]