LeBron James

[Vindicate2]

Did you guys notice this change last year? Did anyone in the NBA?

So you're telling me...he lost explosiveness in 3 months? What, because he cut a few pounds? Highly unlikely, please think this through.

Chris, you should know this being an OSU fan. Any athlete the commits from outside of Ohio to a team within it means youn lose automatically loose a step.

 

[Bandwagoner305]

His back hurting is real and was a problem last year. Dude is tough but isn't indestructible.

It's something to keep tabs on, not to freak about.

He isn't indestructible, but in comparison to his two All-star teammates, he is.

 

[priceFTW]

Why are people still discounting the fact he is playing with a completely different set of teammates after playing for a team that got to the Finals for four straight years?

He isn't a guy like Kobe who will gun away regardless of who his teammates are. Plus on top of not having played a lot with this current crew, the offense so far has been a lot different. You have one of the most gifted pick and roll players of all time and a guy who even was younger was more comfortable getting getting a pick to gain speed and we've basically not run any significant amount of pick and rolls. Sure his back maybe bothering him but it's going take him and the team awhile to figure out how to utilize all the weapons we have

Great point about he pick and roll and James. Miami was able to carve out the second lost efficient offense in NBA history las year when discounting offensive rebounding with James as it's primary engine and catalyst. We want ball movement but aren't there yet and neither are we spreading things out with James with the ball in his hands. Irving is a gifted offensive player, but he doesn't see the floor the way James does. In the long run, great movement with buy in from everyone might be the best way to go, but I bet if we were to put the ball in James's hands, give him picks, spread the floor, our offense would look immediately better, but that's not our long term goal with this offense.

 

[Bandwagoner305]

The thing is LeBron and Kyrie are most effective with the ball on the their hands. They play at their best with the ball on their hands, but one of them will have to make the sacrifice for the best interest of the team. The question is, whose impact does the team needs more? The answer is simple and easy, LeBron. The Cavs needs LeBron's all-around impact and efficiency more than what Kyrie brings to the table as a scoring PG, so in the long run, I wouldn't be surprised if Kyrie plays off the ball and LeBron runs the show like he did in Miami. The sooner the Cavs coaching staffs figures out that the team will be better off with LeBron running the offensive scheme, the quicker they'll reach the level they want to be on the offensive end.

 

[CSF]

I want to cry. The man who wore # 23 four years ago is just a shell of his former self.

 

[Pioneer10]

I want to cry. The man who wore # 23 four years ago is just a shell of his former self.

Lol. If the shell of his former self is what we saw last night against Miami that still leaves him likely as the second best player in the league behind Durant

He isn't the athlete he was but my guess he's closer to what he was 4 years ago then what he has been able to show due to his and back and more significantly chemistry. Plus as he gets more comfortable: will see moored of that jumper. He's a far better jump shooter then I ever thought he'd be and he's significantly better then when he left

 

[BimboColesHair]

Am I the only one who sees his "explosive issues" as a lack of being in basketball shape? He just had a summer like no other athlete has experienced and I bet he spent the least amount of time on the court this summer than he has in a long time. Think people are making too big of a deal out of this.

 

[CSF]

Am I the only one who sees his "explosive issues" as a lack of being in basketball shape? He just had a summer like no other athlete has experienced and I bet he spent the least amount of time on the court this summer than he has in a long time. Think people are making too big of a deal out of this.

Many pro athletes have experienced any off season like LeBron had. Not sure what yur sayin.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Many pro athletes have experienced any off season like LeBron had. Not sure what yur sayin.

No, they haven't. Dude was in Brazil and Asia to rep Nike (and probably other places not made known to the public), vacationed right after the Finals and then later to Greece, on set for a tv show, on set for a movie, helped produce a TV show, switched teams, filmed all of these "Homecoming" commercials we keep seeing, and had another child. Not exactly a lot of on court conditioning work can be done when you're doing all of that.

 

[bobcat22]

Guys, his explosiveness is still there when his back is not acting up like it clearly was last night. He had back issues all last season and still shot 56.7% from the field. He had to sit out a couple games because of back spasms, but the issue started in training camp last year. He'll be fine. If you're still worried, here are his best dunks from last season. Keep in mind he started the year with the same back problems he has now.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI4o_fNMXXU

 

[Bandwagoner305]

He'll be fine. He's a super athlete. The coach just needs to put him in spots where he can score easier, but right now, it's not possible since LeBron can't power his way around the paint area because of the back pain and being out of game shape.

 

[BimboColesHair]

He'll be fine. He's a super athlete. The coach just needs to put him in spots where he can score easier, but right now, it's not possible since LeBron can't power his way around the paint area because of the back pain and being out of game shape.

Really? This already. Jesus Christ.

 

[CSF]

No, they haven't. Dude was in Brazil and Asia to rep Nike (and probably other places not made known to the public), vacationed right after the Finals and then later to Greece, on set for a tv show, on set for a movie, helped produce a TV show, switched teams, filmed all of these "Homecoming" commercials we keep seeing, and had another child. Not exactly a lot of on court conditioning work can be done when you're doing all of that.

Many pro athletes have done and are doing the same stuff in the off season.. Go on vacations... Make commercials.. Dabble in Hollywood... Have sex and kids.. Switch teams... and some even do drugs

 

[CSF]

He'll be fine. He's a super athlete. The coach just needs to put him in spots where he can score easier, but right now, it's not possible since LeBron can't power his way around the paint area because of the back pain and being out of game shape.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but LeBron has many miles on his body, his back aint going to get better nor younger and as of today, LeBron will never be in "better" shape.

 

[CavsHomer]

I don't really know about all of this "lost a step", "isn't the athlete that he once was"...
I don't believe it right now. I watched some Heat games last season and he still was flying above the rim, blowing past defenders and attacking the rim at an unreal pace.

As I pointed out earlier, the main problems right now are his back issues and overall game shape.
Both of these will get better as the season goes on.