LeBron James

The Red Viper said:

I don't think LeBron wants to get Blatt fired. He may not be a big admirer of him and not fully sold on him yet. But to say he wants to get him fired and was playing poorly because of that was simply over the top.

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This whole 'Lebron wanting Blatt fired' thing has always been way over the top. Lebron has not been happy with where this team is, that's obvious, but he is correct about that. He also hasn't been happy with his own injury situation. So he's basically been in a bad mood all year. But he hasn't been targeting Blatt particularly. He has staked his career on this team winning.

People misread Lebron's style and personality. He has never been a coach killer. The only coach who has ever been fired on Lebron's watch is Paul Silas, and that is because Gilbert wanted to clean house when he bought the team. Mike Brown's entire career happened because Lebron liked him and put up with him for so long. Brown and Spoelstra coached Lebron for a loooong time despite being first-time head coaches with no particular NBA reputation established.

The reason drama always seems to follow Lebron is less about his own actions than about the expectations people bring to him, which started when he was the ultimate high school phenom and never let up. Starting with that 10th grade SI cover it was always an expectation that Lebron has to be perfect and then jump on him as soon as he isn't. If he's not cruising to a championship then there is a huge contingent of media and fans ready to jump all over him. For the media, it sells, and for the fans, it's something to talk about and someone to blame.

AZCavs said:

His defense and turnovers are still two factors that need to be addressed. His defense has come and gone in spurts and I believe a lot of that has been effort related as well as schematic. The turnovers are what drive me nuts more than anything. He's still turning the ball at a higher rate than at any point in his career and it's not even close.

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Re defense, I think that even though the two weeks off has done him good, he is physically diminished from what he was and he probably will be for the rest of his career. He no longer has the capacity to go 40 minutes at full effort at both ends of the court, hell I question whether he can go an entire quarter at 100 percent on defense and still be able to consistently attack the basket on offense. He adapts to this by taking plays off on defense. It was noticeable last year and more so now. It's not good but in the end it's better than actually going to the bench, he's still helping the team.

I think the turnover situation is partially related to physical issues as well -- he used to be able to go up in the air in traffic and have time to see the court and make passes. He can't really do that as effectively any more. Of course there is also learning his teammates.

Kbiz8288 said:

Curious what The Heat's record was when James sat out? Anyone know how to find that info....

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2010-11: 1-2
2011-12: 1-3
2012-13: 5-1
2013-14: 2-3

*As for the outlier- all five wins without LeBron in '12-'13 came at the end of the season after the Heat's 27-game win streak was snapped, when they somehow won a crazy 38 of their final 40 games. But apart from an impressive win over a 58-win Spurs the teams they beat without LeBron were the 21-win Bobcats, the 29-win Wizards, the 24-win Cavs, and a 20-win Magic team.

priceFTW said:

Our Offensive rating over the past 10 games:

Atlanta: 103
Milwaukee: 89.5
Charlotte: 99.3
Dallas: 101.4
Philly: 100.8
Houston: 103.4
Golden State: 99.4
Sacramento: 93.4

Phoenix: 112.6
Lakers: 114-116 (haven't calculated it exactly)

There were some moments out there that begged the question: what the fuck is James doing, but in the two games he's been back (yes, against poor defensive teams) we have a top 3-4 offense again.

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And in the three games before the Atlanta game the Cavs offensive rating with LeBron was:
Miami: 100.5
Orlando: 106
Detroit: 82.1

Let's hope he keeps it up!

Those two weeks did wonders for LeBron.

His speed, explosiveness is back.

I wouldn't be surprised if we do this again and give him two more weeks off later in the season.

cavsfever said:

This whole 'Lebron wanting Blatt fired' thing has always been way over the top.

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I disagree completely. I think it should be a bigger story...then maybe he'd realize he's being an ass. I heard rumblings a coup was in progress a long time ago. I said as much in the mod room.

Lebron has not been happy with where this team is, that's obvious, but he is correct about that. He also hasn't been happy with his own injury situation. So he's basically been in a bad mood all year. But he hasn't been targeting Blatt particularly. He has staked his career on this team winning.

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I don't think he was nearly as injured as he claimed. All you had to do was look at the Nets game when the Royals walked in and JayZ and Beyonce were on the other side of the court. Suddenly, the effort was there on both ends of the court. I think he was hoping that the vacation to Miami would be the dagger in the Blatt coffin.

People misread Lebron's style and personality. He has never been a coach killer. The only coach who has ever been fired on Lebron's watch is Paul Silas, and that is because Gilbert wanted to clean house when he bought the team. Mike Brown's entire career happened because Lebron liked him and put up with him for so long. Brown and Spoelstra coached Lebron for a loooong time despite being first-time head coaches with no particular NBA reputation established.

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Oh he tried in Miami...Riley and Spoe dropped the hammer on him...Wade talked him into eventually buying in too.

The reason drama always seems to follow Lebron is less about his own actions than about the expectations people bring to him, which started when he was the ultimate high school phenom and never let up. Starting with that 10th grade SI cover it was always an expectation that Lebron has to be perfect and then jump on him as soon as he isn't. If he's not cruising to a championship then there is a huge contingent of media and fans ready to jump all over him. For the media, it sells, and for the fans, it's something to talk about and someone to blame.

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Again, i respectfully disagree. Flying to Miami and then the OSU game? How disrespectful is that to his teammates and coaches who are trying to stop the boat from sinking? Is it that much to expect him to hang around his team, do therapy with the team, sit in on film sessions and attend our games? It's tough to build chemistry when you having new coaches, systems, players, trades and injuries. Now your best player isn't buying in and going on vacations...that makes it infinitely harder. He's acting like a spoiled brat. His whole attitude has been "do what i want or i'm not trying...Blatt isn't "La Familia" so I'm not trying". He goes around mgmt when they say no to special requests for family and friends. It's absurd. He's a megalomaniac.

Bottom line is he will never know if Blatt is the next Pop if he doesn't give him a chance. Has Blatt made mistakes? Sure! But work with him, don't sabotage him from day #1. It's disgusting. I'll tell you this, if we fire him, he won't be unemployed long. Kerr loves him, RC and Pop love him too...I could see him replacing Pop someday to be honest.

Are all our problems Lebron's fault? Nope...but he's the source of many. Ownership is responsible to for letting him walk all over them and everyone else, so they are a big part of the problem too by enabling him. Blatt is guilty of coming in starstruck...the first 2 months mgmt begged him to be harder on Lebron and challenge him. Lue is doing Blatt no favors whatsoever...he is in charge of our defense too. Griff? Not sure what to say, he's been forced into overpaying for some of these trades, ownership overrules decisions he makes left and right...i feel bad for him.

I don't know how this will all shake out. Will it click and he starts to buy in? Maybe. Will the trainwreck continue, Lebron finally get his way and have Mark Jackson as the coach in a week or two? Maybe.

Only in Cleveland...

Thanks Max, for saying what a lot of us thought was going on, all along. Appreciate it.

Also - DISGUSTING and low class.

He doesn't like David Blatt. That much is clear.

And still he's played harder than anyone else on the team the last two games, better than anyone else on the team the last two games (by a lot) and is pretty much the only reason we won the last game and were even close in the Suns game (along with Smith).

Meanwhile, Blatt's coaching these last two games has been pretty damn pathetic. So even though LeBron may not like Blatt, he's been bringing it at a high level and Blatt has not.

Between what Max just said and the general dysfunction narrative Windy just dropped on ESPNCleveland, this shit is downright depressing.

Maximus said:

I disagree completely. I think it should be a bigger story...then maybe he'd realize he's being an ass. I heard rumblings a coup was in progress a long time ago. I said as much in the mod room.



I don't think he was nearly as injured as he claimed. All you had to do was look at the Nets game when the Royals walked in and JayZ and Beyonce were on the other side of the court. Suddenly, the effort was there on both ends of the court. I think he was hoping that the vacation to Miami would be the dagger in the Blatt coffin.



Oh he tried in Miami...Riley and Spoe dropped the hammer on him...Wade talked him into eventually buying in too.



Again, i respectfully disagree. Flying to Miami and then the OSU game? How disrespectful is that to his teammates and coaches who are trying to stop the boat from sinking? Is it that much to expect him to hang around his team, do therapy with the team, sit in on film sessions and attend our games? It's tough to build chemistry when you having new coaches, systems, players, trades and injuries. Now your best player isn't buying in and going on vacations...that makes it infinitely harder. He's acting like a spoiled brat. His whole attitude has been "do what i want or i'm not trying...Blatt isn't "La Familia" so I'm not trying". He goes around mgmt when they say no to special requests for family and friends. It's absurd. He's a megalomaniac.

Bottom line is he will never know if Blatt is the next Pop if he doesn't give him a chance. Has Blatt made mistakes? Sure! But work with him, don't sabotage him from day #1. It's disgusting. I'll tell you this, if we fire him, he won't be unemployed long. Kerr loves him, RC and Pop love him too...I could see him replacing Pop someday to be honest.

Are all our problems Lebron's fault? Nope...but he's the source of many. Ownership is responsible to for letting him walk all over them and everyone else, so they are a big part of the problem too by enabling him. Blatt is guilty of coming in starstruck...the first 2 months mgmt begged him to be harder on Lebron and challenge him. Lue is doing Blatt no favors whatsoever...he is in charge of our defense too. Griff? Not sure what to say, he's been forced into overpaying for some of these trades, ownership overrules decisions he makes left and right...i feel bad for him.

I don't know how this will all shake out. Will it click and he starts to buy in? Maybe. Will the trainwreck continue, Lebron finally get his way and have Mark Jackson as the coach in a week or two? Maybe.

Only in Cleveland...

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Just out of curiosity, if the Cavs had lost to the Lakers last night, did you feel like it could've been his last game coaching with the Cavs?

Unfuckingreal....... Jesus

cavsfever said:

Re defense, I think that even though the two weeks off has done him good, he is physically diminished from what he was and he probably will be for the rest of his career. He no longer has the capacity to go 40 minutes at full effort at both ends of the court, hell I question whether he can go an entire quarter at 100 percent on defense and still be able to consistently attack the basket on offense. He adapts to this by taking plays off on defense. It was noticeable last year and more so now. It's not good but in the end it's better than actually going to the bench, he's still helping the team.

I think the turnover situation is partially related to physical issues as well -- he used to be able to go up in the air in traffic and have time to see the court and make passes. He can't really do that as effectively any more. Of course there is also learning his teammates.

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I certainly would never use "physically diminished" to describe Lebron. He is the best basketball player in the world and 30 years old is the peak age for any man. He may be 5-10% less explosive than in his twenties but he is a much more savvy, team player than he was in his younger days.

The issue here is that if LeBron doesn't buy in, other guys aren't going to buy in.

And until then, we're going to be playing some .500 level basketball.

Thanks, Max. It's infuriating watching national sports personalities make excuses for LeBron. David Blatt is a fifty-five-year-old, highly respected coach who deserves LeBron's respect. To deny it to him outright, to make him "earn it" like he's a f***ing child... that's just ludicrous. LeBron needs more people to call him out publicly. He needs to be seriously browbeaten. It's clear to me that he left Miami because he didn't like being under Riley's thumb, and now the same damn thing that happened during his first stay in Cleveland is happening again. I don't want to see this bratty behavior rewarded.

Soar said:

The issue here is that if LeBron doesn't buy in, other guys aren't going to buy in.

And until then, we're going to be playing some .500 level basketball.

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That would be a massive improvement over the product we've seen recently, even with LeBron...