A Dissection of our woes, from a coach's eyes

[KI4MVP]

you missed this edit

The point is that LeBron is only 20, yet is getting jordan like offensive productivity while improving his defense. Jordan had 3 years of dean smith to get him ready for the NBA - this year is the first time any coach even cared of LeBron played defense. Give it some time and he'll elevate his defense. It's above average right now and it'll only get better.

 

[PIP]

Got it....

 

[ootbttnlagitnbasf]

smith taught jordan how to win.

brown (dale) taught o'neal how to win - with an assist from zen jackson.

brown (lb) taught wallacex2 & billups and co how to win, but it took him a while - but they had time at carolina and colorado and places like that.

duncan learned to win at wake. before him the admiral learned how to win at navy.

players like Lebron and melo and t-mac and j-o'neal and kg never learned how to win as a team. before they arrived in the nba they were the best players, the most skilled players by a mile on the court each and every night. they never learned to rely on a team mate or work with a team mate. it was clear out and let me score. that doesn't work in the nba. no team has ever been led to an nba crown with a best player who entered the nba right out of high school. maybe Lebron can be the first high school draftee to lead his team to an nba crown. maybe not.

but he has more talent than any other nba player. and he is younger than most nba players. and he has plenty of endorsement sponsorships, so he will not go hungry, or be hungry or have any hunger.

 

[KI4MVP]

LePip - I hope you paid attention to LeBron's defense - he only gave up 2 baskets all game while getting 3 steals and two blocks.

 

[cavincali]

LePip - I hope you paid attention to LeBron's defense - he only gave up 2 baskets all game while getting 3 steals and two blocks.

yeah but who was he guarding and how many minutes did he play.

 

[KI4MVP]

harpring and devin brown -they combine for 19.8 ppg, leBron held them to a combined 7 (and 3 of the 7 were because someone else fouled Brown).

 

[Karma]

So when LeBron actually digs in and defends tough like the past 3 games, we tend to get wins.

Maybe LeBron should stick with that just quietly. (Not holding breath)

 

[Wine and Gold]

Karma ...YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. Lebron, in the pst three games has transformed his intensity within the game. He is going 100% on the defensive end for the 1st time in his pro career, and finding his spots on the offensive end for his rest ....which is exactly how his idol, Micahel did it. As I said when I strted this post ....what becomes a contagious mode of operation with the team leader, quickly becomes contagious throughout the team. Teams for as long as we record history, take on the qualities of their leaders ....whther it be a coach or player ...and I think we are seeing the beginnings of that taking hold now, I sincerely hope that this is a longterm change in his game, and not just a few game fad .....but, if winning is what he's about ..then look out. When defense becomes a priority with Lebron, this team will be on the threshold of a realization of a dream ....a championship caliber team in Cleveland Ohio.

It's already has a positive effect throughout the team ....it's glaringly noticeable ....I EVEN NOTICED EFFORT FROM DAMON JONES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT !!

 

[KI4MVP]

it's been going on longer than 3 games (LeBron playing defense), it's nice people are finally noticing.

 

[G-MAN]

i agree with the 3 game stretch. he did do it early in the season but everyone seemed to loose the intensity during the bad stretch. having so many blowouts early might have led to bad habits overall.

the team as a whole has picked it up on that end and it has showed.

 

[Karma]

LV4MVP, you have o be honest now. When LeBron plays well on defense it is noticed like in the past week. However his effort levels on defense for large chunks have been below par, hense these threads. He falls in and out effort wise. When he's on, it demoralises teams. When off, it spreads like cancer through the team and we seem lethargic.

Props to LeBron for taking that step, lets hope for the Cavaliers sake that its a keeper.

 

[KI4MVP]

he played well against pierce. he got carter for a quarter (the third) and played well against him. Earlier in the year he was playing solid defense, but it was against nobodies. I do agree that his defensive effort has elevated since the losses (did you see how upset he was when he gave up his first basket of the game late in the first half?), which is a good thing. But he's been playing much improved defense all year.