LeBron James

[CavsFan87]

I'll just post this here as well, for the people who aren't in the coming home party thread:

[video=youtube;Jps3RK2bqvk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jps3RK2bqvk[/video]

New drinking game:

Do a shot every time Lebron says "These Kids"

 

[Bandwagoner305]

It looks like LeBron's numbers will go down this year, which means that his chances of winning his fifth MVP will be unlikely since Durant will have another season as great as he did last year. I'd hate to see Durant repeat as the MVP. LeBron didn't had a great regular season last year, at least not one of the type of high standard that he's being held to. He definitely took the year off on the defensive end, but he should've averaged more PPG on more FGA, but he didn't. Having, Love as a second option, LeBron isn't going to be able to average 27 PPG, and he sure as hell isn't going to average more FGA than he did last season.

LeBron-Love is a deadly two-punch the way it is, but it will work more effectively if LeBron is allowed to be the primary play-maker. Irving should still make plays and have control of the ball from time to time, but LeBron should be the primary play-maker. He's more effective and more proven to get things done with the ball in his hands than Irving ever has been. They will have to make a few sacrifices in order for it to work, and Irving is probably going to have to make a few more adjustments than LeBron and Love. In Miami, LeBron was the primary play-maker when he and Wade were on the court together, and then, Wade took the role of the primary play-maker when LeBron sat on the bench. Irving will have to take a role similar to Wade, except that, he's a better outside shooter than Wade, and will not hesitate to shoot open shots. Irving can still do his fancy dribbles, etc, but LeBron should have total control of the offensive scheme. He has the higher BB IQ to run it better than Irving, and is a proven winner.


Here are my stats prediction for the starting five.

Irving(18.6 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 47% FG, 38% 3pt, 87% FT)
Waiters(15.2 PPG, 2.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 45% FG, 36% 3pt, 75% FT)
LeBron(25.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, 7.2 RPG, 56% FG, 38% 3pt, 75% FT)
Love(22.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 12.0 RPG, 52% FG, 36% 3pt, 83% FT)
Varejao(9.6 PPG, 2.0 APG, 9.5 PPG, 50% FG, 70% FT)

 

[pl4tinum]

That's some lousy 3 point percentages. I gotta believe at least 1 or 2 of those guys breaks the 40% barrier with all that firepower around to open things up.

 

[Cavsengland]

It looks like LeBron's numbers will go down this year, which means that his chances of winning his fifth MVP will be unlikely since Durant will have another season as great as he did last year. I'd hate to see Durant repeat as the MVP. LeBron didn't had a great regular season last year, at least not one of the type of high standard that he's being held to. He definitely took the year off on the defensive end, but he should've averaged more PPG on more FGA, but he didn't. Having, Love as a second option, LeBron isn't going to be able to average 27 PPG, and he sure as hell isn't going to average more FGA than he did last season.

LeBron-Love is a deadly two-punch the way it is, but it will work more effectively if LeBron is allowed to be the primary play-maker. Irving should still make plays and have control of the ball from time to time, but LeBron should be the primary play-maker. He's more effective and more proven to get things done with the ball in his hands than Irving ever has been. They will have to make a few sacrifices in order for it to work, and Irving is probably going to have to make a few more adjustments than LeBron and Love. In Miami, LeBron was the primary play-maker when he and Wade were on the court together, and then, Wade took the role of the primary play-maker when LeBron sat on the bench. Irving will have to take a role similar to Wade, except that, he's a better outside shooter than Wade, and will not hesitate to shoot open shots. Irving can still do his fancy dribbles, etc, but LeBron should have total control of the offensive scheme. He has the higher BB IQ to run it better than Irving, and is a proven winner.


Here are my stats prediction for the starting five.

Irving(18.6 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 47% FG, 38% 3pt, 87% FT)
Waiters(15.2 PPG, 2.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 45% FG, 36% 3pt, 75% FT)
LeBron(25.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, 7.2 RPG, 56% FG, 38% 3pt, 75% FT)
Love(22.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 12.0 RPG, 52% FG, 36% 3pt, 83% FT)
Varejao(9.6 PPG, 2.0 APG, 9.5 PPG, 50% FG, 70% FT)

Kyrie will avareage more than 18.6 pts imo. But apart from that I agree.

 

[MattyJames]

It looks like LeBron's numbers will go down this year, which means that his chances of winning his fifth MVP will be unlikely since Durant will have another season as great as he did last year. I'd hate to see Durant repeat as the MVP. LeBron didn't had a great regular season last year, at least not one of the type of high standard that he's being held to. He definitely took the year off on the defensive end, but he should've averaged more PPG on more FGA, but he didn't. Having, Love as a second option, LeBron isn't going to be able to average 27 PPG, and he sure as hell isn't going to average more FGA than he did last season.

LeBron-Love is a deadly two-punch the way it is, but it will work more effectively if LeBron is allowed to be the primary play-maker. Irving should still make plays and have control of the ball from time to time, but LeBron should be the primary play-maker. He's more effective and more proven to get things done with the ball in his hands than Irving ever has been. They will have to make a few sacrifices in order for it to work, and Irving is probably going to have to make a few more adjustments than LeBron and Love. In Miami, LeBron was the primary play-maker when he and Wade were on the court together, and then, Wade took the role of the primary play-maker when LeBron sat on the bench. Irving will have to take a role similar to Wade, except that, he's a better outside shooter than Wade, and will not hesitate to shoot open shots. Irving can still do his fancy dribbles, etc, but LeBron should have total control of the offensive scheme. He has the higher BB IQ to run it better than Irving, and is a proven winner.

Here are my stats prediction for the starting five.

Irving(18.6 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 47% FG, 38% 3pt, 87% FT)
Waiters(15.2 PPG, 2.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 45% FG, 36% 3pt, 75% FT)
LeBron(25.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, 7.2 RPG, 56% FG, 38% 3pt, 75% FT)
Love(22.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 12.0 RPG, 52% FG, 36% 3pt, 83% FT)
Varejao(9.6 PPG, 2.0 APG, 9.5 PPG, 50% FG, 70% FT)

According to you, Our starters will average 91.8 pts per game. The LOWEST bench scoring average last year was 23.6 PPG (Portland). Using that math, If we have the lowest scoring bench in the league (23.6), we will still average 115.4 pts per game, putting us among the highest scoring teams of all time. As much as i love your numbers, it's a stretch to say the least.

 

[ClevelandOwnz]

New drinking game:

Do a shot every time Lebron says "These Kids"

LeBron be like...
[video=youtube;VXNj2BobjJ4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXNj2BobjJ4[/video]

 

[Bandwagoner305]

Kyrie will avareage more than 18.6 pts imo. But apart from that I agree.

It depends on his health and if he's dominating the ball. LeBron and Love are going to average more FGA, but the only way that i can see Irving averaging more than 18.6 PPG is if he forces a lot of shots and not play within the flow of offense. While, I think it's possible for the Cavs to make a big push and win it all this season, it will be really hard to do. Kyrie and Waiters have to grow up and understand that in order for them to be winners, they have to put their ego aside and make sacrifices, and from what I've seen when they play and heard, they both play with the attitude that they're the two best players in the league and better than anyone else, but they don't hold each other accountable for their mistakes.

LeBron will have a lot of work to do because all three of his best new teammates aren't proven winners, but they play with the mindset that they're better than anyone else, and while that considered a good thing to play with a chip on their shoulders, it's also a bad thing if they aren't acknowledging their mistakes, and refuses to listen to advices, etc. LeBron's role as a leader will be tougher than it was in Miami. Wade was already a proven winner when he played with LeBron. Bosh at least made the playoffs a couple times and understood his role next to LeBron and Wade. This whole thing can blow up if Waiters and Kyrie don't grow up fast and realize that they are no longer the two best players on the team anymore. A lot of people thought that(Nash, Kobe, Gasol, Howard) would've worked as well, but it didn't because of Kobe's ego, and other issues. LeBron is the ultimate team player superstar, but Irving and Waiters do need to mature and understand that team success means more for their legacy/resume than individual inflated stats.

 

[czvo]

It depends on his health and if he's dominating the ball. LeBron and Love are going to average more FGA, but the only way that i can see Irving averaging more than 18.6 PPG is if he forces a lot of shots and not play within the flow of offense. While, I think it's possible for the Cavs to make a big push and win it all this season, it will be really hard to do. Kyrie and Waiters have to grow up and understand that in order for them to be winners, they have to put their ego aside and make sacrifices, and from what I've seen when they play and heard, they both play with the attitude that they're the two best players in the league and better than anyone else, but they don't hold each other accountable for their mistakes.

LeBron will have a lot of work to do because all three of his best new teammates aren't proven winners, but they play with the mindset that they're better than anyone else, and while that considered a good thing to play with a chip on their shoulders, it's also a bad thing if they aren't acknowledging their mistakes, and refuses to listen to advices, etc. LeBron's role as a leader will be tougher than it was in Miami. Wade was already a proven winner when he played with LeBron. Bosh at least made the playoffs a couple times and understood his role next to LeBron and Wade. This whole thing can blow up if Waiters and Kyrie don't grow up fast and realize that they are no longer the two best players on the team anymore. A lot of people thought that(Nash, Kobe, Gasol, Howard) would've worked as well, but it didn't because of Kobe's ego, and other issues. LeBron is the ultimate team player superstar, but Irving and Waiters do need to mature and understand that team success means more for their legacy/resume than individual inflated stats.

Here's the flip side to that argument: LeBron is the clear alpha-dog in this situation. In Miami, there seemed to be a power struggle, at least the first year, between he and Wade. In this case, everyone knows LeBron is the best player. Every player knows LeBron is and should be the leader. I doubt you'll see Kyrie, Waiters, or Love struggle with that.

 

[Superman]

Yeah, as talented as that lineup is, there still is only one basketball on the court. Those numbers are way too high collectively, no way the starters average 92 points.

 

[CavsHomer]

It looks like LeBron's numbers will go down this year, which means that his chances of winning his fifth MVP will be unlikely since Durant will have another season as great as he did last year. I'd hate to see Durant repeat as the MVP. LeBron didn't had a great regular season last year, at least not one of the type of high standard that he's being held to. He definitely took the year off on the defensive end, but he should've averaged more PPG on more FGA, but he didn't. Having, Love as a second option, LeBron isn't going to be able to average 27 PPG, and he sure as hell isn't going to average more FGA than he did last season.

LeBron-Love is a deadly two-punch the way it is, but it will work more effectively if LeBron is allowed to be the primary play-maker. Irving should still make plays and have control of the ball from time to time, but LeBron should be the primary play-maker. He's more effective and more proven to get things done with the ball in his hands than Irving ever has been. They will have to make a few sacrifices in order for it to work, and Irving is probably going to have to make a few more adjustments than LeBron and Love. In Miami, LeBron was the primary play-maker when he and Wade were on the court together, and then, Wade took the role of the primary play-maker when LeBron sat on the bench. Irving will have to take a role similar to Wade, except that, he's a better outside shooter than Wade, and will not hesitate to shoot open shots. Irving can still do his fancy dribbles, etc, but LeBron should have total control of the offensive scheme. He has the higher BB IQ to run it better than Irving, and is a proven winner.


Here are my stats prediction for the starting five.

Irving(18.6 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 47% FG, 38% 3pt, 87% FT)
Waiters(15.2 PPG, 2.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 45% FG, 36% 3pt, 75% FT)
LeBron(25.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, 7.2 RPG, 56% FG, 38% 3pt, 75% FT)
Love(22.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 12.0 RPG, 52% FG, 36% 3pt, 83% FT)
Varejao(9.6 PPG, 2.0 APG, 9.5 PPG, 50% FG, 70% FT)

I disagree with most of this.

First of all, I still think James will be able to score around 26-27 PPG, even with Love as our second option.
I already wrote this so many times, but I'll do it again here:
You have to remember, in his first season with the Miami Heat, James still averaged 26.7 PPG, with Wade (in his prime), a very ball dominant player, as the second option.
Wade still had 25.5(!) PPG, while Bosh averaged 18.7 PPG.
So why shouldn't it work the same way on this team?
James around 26-27 PPG
Love around 24-25 PPG
Irving around 20-21 PPG

Secondly, why are you so sure that James will certainly not average more FGA next season?? And why should it matter as he gets more efficient year after year anyway? So that's nonsense as well, imo.
Again: James averaged 18.8 FGA in his first season with the Heat and only 17.6 FGA (career low) last season, while Bosh and Wade had career lows in FGA's (in the Big 3 era) as well last year.
So your argument doesn't work, saying that his FGA's will decrease because of other high volume scorers on this team.

And thirdly, James will be the slight favorite to win the MVP trophy next season, imo. While his scoring numbers may go down A BIT, his assists will for sure increase.
And obviously, stats aren't everything. The regular season record plays a huge role as well (see Rose in 2011). And I don't see OKC having a better record than us, tbh.

In the end, winning a championship or not is all that matters. Even for you as a James fan. Forget about the MVP awards. James already won 4 of them. He doesn't give a damn about the regular season anymore, in terms of wanting to dominate it to prove everyone that he's the best player on the planet. He's already done it at least 4 times.
He wants to win championships! And that what defines his legacy more than MVP's, imo.

Btw: I expect Love's 3pt % to increase and not decrease. He shot 37.6% from downtown last season. I expect this number to increase to around 38-40%.

 

[Cavsengland]

It depends on his health and if he's dominating the ball. LeBron and Love are going to average more FGA, but the only way that i can see Irving averaging more than 18.6 PPG is if he forces a lot of shots and not play within the flow of offense. While, I think it's possible for the Cavs to make a big push and win it all this season, it will be really hard to do. Kyrie and Waiters have to grow up and understand that in order for them to be winners, they have to put their ego aside and make sacrifices, and from what I've seen when they play and heard, they both play with the attitude that they're the two best players in the league and better than anyone else, but they don't hold each other accountable for their mistakes.

LeBron will have a lot of work to do because all three of his best new teammates aren't proven winners, but they play with the mindset that they're better than anyone else, and while that considered a good thing to play with a chip on their shoulders, it's also a bad thing if they aren't acknowledging their mistakes, and refuses to listen to advices, etc. LeBron's role as a leader will be tougher than it was in Miami. Wade was already a proven winner when he played with LeBron. Bosh at least made the playoffs a couple times and understood his role next to LeBron and Wade. This whole thing can blow up if Waiters and Kyrie don't grow up fast and realize that they are no longer the two best players on the team anymore. A lot of people thought that(Nash, Kobe, Gasol, Howard) would've worked as well, but it didn't because of Kobe's ego, and other issues. LeBron is the ultimate team player superstar, but Irving and Waiters do need to mature and understand that team success means more for their legacy/resume than individual inflated stats.

How much have you seen bandwagoner305?

 

[CavsHomer]

[video=youtube;YUkIBZHiX50]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUkIBZHiX50[/video]

 

[Cassity14]

I personally think LeBron has the MVP locked up. The story of him returning home, to a team and franchise that's been in shambles since he left, and leading them to 55+ wins and a top 2 seed in the conference on somewhat 'normal' LeBron numbers will get him the award. It'll make up for the one he lost because of his villain status in 2010-2011.

 

[secund2nun]

It looks like LeBron's numbers will go down this year, which means that his chances of winning his fifth MVP will be unlikely since Durant will have another season as great as he did last year. I'd hate to see Durant repeat as the MVP. LeBron didn't had a great regular season last year, at least not one of the type of high standard that he's being held to. He definitely took the year off on the defensive end, but he should've averaged more PPG on more FGA, but he didn't. Having, Love as a second option, LeBron isn't going to be able to average 27 PPG, and he sure as hell isn't going to average more FGA than he did last season.

LeBron-Love is a deadly two-punch the way it is, but it will work more effectively if LeBron is allowed to be the primary play-maker. Irving should still make plays and have control of the ball from time to time, but LeBron should be the primary play-maker. He's more effective and more proven to get things done with the ball in his hands than Irving ever has been. They will have to make a few sacrifices in order for it to work, and Irving is probably going to have to make a few more adjustments than LeBron and Love. In Miami, LeBron was the primary play-maker when he and Wade were on the court together, and then, Wade took the role of the primary play-maker when LeBron sat on the bench. Irving will have to take a role similar to Wade, except that, he's a better outside shooter than Wade, and will not hesitate to shoot open shots. Irving can still do his fancy dribbles, etc, but LeBron should have total control of the offensive scheme. He has the higher BB IQ to run it better than Irving, and is a proven winner.


Here are my stats prediction for the starting five.

Irving(18.6 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 47% FG, 38% 3pt, 87% FT)
Waiters(15.2 PPG, 2.4 APG, 4.0 RPG, 45% FG, 36% 3pt, 75% FT)
LeBron(25.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, 7.2 RPG, 56% FG, 38% 3pt, 75% FT)
Love(22.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 12.0 RPG, 52% FG, 36% 3pt, 83% FT)
Varejao(9.6 PPG, 2.0 APG, 9.5 PPG, 50% FG, 70% FT)

I take the opposite stance. I think as long as Lebron posts Lebron like numbers he will win the MVP next season. This is because ultimately he was screwed over this year because of MVP fatigue and every single voter knows it. Durant won the MVP because he wasn't Lebron. They will make it up to Lebron next year and vote for Lebron especially since Cleveland will go from lottery team to possibly the best record in the NBA or at min one of the best.....plus the coming home story line.

As for numbers I think Lebron's numbers are gonna go up in scoring, assists, and overall efficiency (but down in rebounding) and he will have more impressive numbers than he had on Miami. Also people are overrating Miami's defense...or underrating the upcoming Cavs defense. It will be better than the Miami defense and Lebron will expend less energy playing for this team than Miami. This squad does not have a strong rim protector but Andy is easily a better rim protector than any Miami player and rebounding is a huge part of defense and this Cavs team will be the best rebounding team in the NBA unlike the Heat who were the worst.

The reason? This Cleveland team has much better spacing than the Miami team did. Lebron thrives off of spacing. Wade destroyed spacing and Bosh was a mediocre 3 point shooter. This Cleveland team has a sick 3 point shooting core in Love, Kyrie, Miller, Waiters, Jones, Delly, and most likely Ray. No liabilities from downtown on the floor aside from the Center who is naturally supposed to be in the paint anyways. Miami had liabilities from downtown in Wade and Bosh...2 of the key players.

Lebron is gonna have a much easier time scoring playing with this Cavs squad and he won't have to put so much energy in passing and rebounding because the Cavs will be the best rebounding team unlike Miami which was the worst and the Cavs have a couple of great passers in Love and Kyrie plus Lebron.

I think Lebron will post a 29-8-6.5 stat line on 58/39/76. I wouldn't be suprised to see Lebron hit 30 ppg. He is gonna have the easiest time in his career by far in scoring this season. No more packing the paint because Wade's defender is sagging off of him and Bosh's defender not respecting his mediocre 3 point game. And unlike the old Cavs teams that had good spacing, this squad has players who can generate their own points instead of just standing at the line shooting like the 07-10 Cavs did with Mo, West, and company.

 

[shoes22]

LeBron can average over 30PPG any time he wants. We all know this. I'd rather he let up on scoring a little bit (defer that responsibility a little to Kyrie and Love, as scoring is what they do) and instead spend more of that energy on defense. Lord knows that's what this team needs most if we're truly gonna be dominant.