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Lue: LeBron 'wants to be coached'

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is delivering on his promise.

Lue was promoted in part because his predecessor, David Blatt, wasn't hard enough on the players - particularly LeBron James - so he's taking a firmer line with his superstar.

So far, the King has responded positively to the tough love, Lue told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

"It’s been good, so far," Lue said. "He understands what we’ve got to do to get to the point we want to get to. It’s not personal. It’s just teaching and correcting. If I can teach and correct him, like I said, other guys will follow in line. We can’t be afraid to do that and hold him accountable."

A lack of accountability, which took form in Blatt's reticence to critique James in film sessions and the like, was part of the former head coach's downfall. Certainly, when it comes to the four-time MVP, there's a fine line to be towed - something Lue also acknowledged.

"I think nowadays, the way the coaching business is, players, they have a lot of weight," Lue said. "And if you try to correct, or (are) always staying on the best players, they can kind of get you removed at some point. But I just felt like, with LeBron, he wants to be coached, he wants guys to be hard on them so he can get to the next level, so I don’t have a problem at all with doing that."

The Cavaliers are 7-3 under Lue's watch. Over that time, James has averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the floor - numbers virtually identical to those he posted under Blatt.

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