INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - LeBron James said Cavaliers coach David Blatt has "done a helluva job this year" guiding a team to the Finals, offering perhaps the highest praise for the first-year coach during a season that began tumultuously and ends with Cleveland competing for a championship.

James made his statement after the Cavs' last practice in northeast Ohio before flying to the Bay Area Tuesday to finish preparations for Game 1 Thursday against Golden State.

Blatt has faced his share of criticism throughout the year - including from James, who as recently as the Eastern Conference semifinals blamed the game plan for a Game 1 loss - but now has Cleveland just four wins from the first title in franchise history.

James has plenty to do with that, but he's also credited Blatt and his assistants for changing defensive schemes early in the year that have enabled the Cavs to become the league's best defensive team in the postseason. On Monday, James praised Blatt for succeeding amidst the criticism.

"We knew that a lot of people were going to say things that, you know, didn't mean much, but that's just what they have to do," James said. "That's what helps sales. That's the, people love reading the negative things more than the positive things, so I think he's handled his situation unbelievably.

"Being a rookie coach in the NBA, being able to take his team to the Finals, I think he's done a helluva job."

The Cavs quietly admitted during the conference finals that James was frustrated with Blatt early in the season - it was evident in James' body language, lack of engagement in huddles, and comments to the press - but agreed to give him a chance while general manager David Griffin brought in new players to put around James via trades.

On Dec. 29, amid swirling reports of James' unhappiness, the superstar offered a lukewarm endorsement of Blatt but declined to go further when pushed. "Listen man, I don't pay no bills around here. I play," he said.

After stumbling to a 19-20 start, the Cavs are the best team in the NBA since Jan. 13.

Kyrie Irving described Blatt's positive traits as "being able to listen and be receptive to what the players are saying and going out and making changes.

"If he feels like it's what's best for the team he's the coach and he's going to make a decision and we all respect that," Irving said. "It hasn't been anyone stepping on anybody's toes. Obviously there has been some disagreements here and there, but what team doesn't have disagreements?"

Blatt survived a near disaster in the conference semis against Chicago - the kind of disaster that could've cost him his career in the league - but was bailed out with help from James.

In the waning seconds of Game 4, Blatt tried to call timeout when the Cavs were out of them. Had a referee seen him, Cleveland would've been assessed a technical foul, meaning two shots and the ball for the Bulls.

Instead, Blatt escaped unscathed, and James hit a buzzer-beater to win the game and change the series in the Cavs' favor.

Cleveland hasn't lost since, despite playing against both the Bulls and Atlanta largely without Irving. James was asked if Blatt deserved more credit, and he said "I don't think he cares about that.

"It shouldn't matter, getting credit from other people, who cares," James said. "It's all about how we credit each other, that's inside these (walls) on these floors every day in this practice facility, the game, film session, things of that nature. So it shouldn't matter what everybody else (says)."

Blatt, who would become the first rookie coach to win an NBA Finals since Pat Riley in 1982, and the first Israeli citizen to ever win an NBA Finals, was asked if this run was vindication for him.

"I told somebody recently I'm not a vindictive person, so I don't feel the need for vindication in any way," Blatt said Monday.