LeBron James

[Mr. Blonde]

So you're convinced that LeBron doesn't know how to win, but i bet you think Dion and Kyrie do.

How about neither?

 

[Cavatt]

So you're convinced that LeBron doesn't know how to win, but i bet you think Dion and Kyrie do.

Not at all. I know for sure Kyrie and Dion don't. I do think LeBron is pointing fingers while having two ringless fingers pointing back at himself.

I don't like his effort so far, and it looks like a lot of the team is following suit especially on d.

 

[Jordan]

I get you and feel you.

I question how smart it is to let them keep playing the way they have been for 4 years in order to prove a point. They haven't learned from doing it this way so far. How are they going to now?

Supposedly LeBron is a genius who has mastered the system and is now pulling some reverse psychology on the young guns.

However I haven't seen him operate within the system to win any games yet. I have seen him play some hero ball and hit some tough shots against Chicago.

I think leading by example is more helpful, not playing hero ball which only a couple other players on the team are capable of.

All fair points. I think there are some things we can all agree on. 1) LBJ has a photographic basketball memory. 2) It is not even clear a system has been implemented, let alone LBJ has mastered it. 3) LBJ is the most likely player on this team to grasp the system first. 4) When LBJ is healthy he is categorically the best player in the NBA. 5) LBJ is not playing at 100%. Regardless if that is a health issue or by choice.

These combined, along with your previous concerns, is why I am frustrated that people are turning on LBJ. Blaming him for losing is fair; however, if we win a championship it will be because -- not in spite of -- LBJ.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Is it that hard for everybody, including lebron, to admit that's he's played terrible, and lackadaisical so far?

To those asking about LeBron's effort, D, etc:

My best guess is that yes, that's also part of his plan.. he's emulating the young guys' lack of effort defensively while at the same time, letting them do what they want offensively, to show them that, even with all the talent in the world, you're gonna flat out lose if you play like that.

Is it the best strategy? That remains to be seen. But at this point, I trust him & the vets in what they do to improve the team.

If this was pre-Miami LeBron, I wouldn't trust this strategy. However, he's now a proven winner & knows what it takes. If it were later in the season, I wouldn't trust the fact that it's even part of a strategy. However, it's early in the season & it makes a lot of sense that it's part of a strategy & not some sign that he's "lost it".

 

[MoFlo]

I get you and feel you.

I question how smart it is to let them keep playing the way they have been for 4 years in order to prove a point. They haven't learned from doing it this way so far. How are they going to now?

As you said, they haven't learned it up to this point, so there was a very good chance that even if they bought in right away, they'd revert back to their bad habits.

The point in LeBron doing it this way, this soon is that he wants to prove that if they go into bad habits, they're still gonna lose, super team or not, no matter how much talent is on the team.

Difference being that they're seeing it first hand from guys who have won multiple titles, and seeing that despite all the talent in the world, the bad habits will still result in losses.

 

[Snarly]

I know LeBron used that game to rest and see what our players are doing wrong. In his mind it is a 82 game season so no need to rush it. The Heat LeBron started the same was and people were saying the same things. Nothing new here.

 

[Cavatt]

All fair points. I think there are some things we can all agree on. 1) LBJ has a photographic basketball memory. 2) It is not even clear a system has been implemented, let alone LBJ has mastered it. 3) LBJ is the most likely player on this team to grasp the system first. 4) When LBJ is healthy he is categorically the best player in the NBA. 5) LBJ is not playing at 100%. Regardless if that is a health issue or by choice.

These combined, along with your previous concerns, is why I am frustrated that people are turning on LBJ. Blaming him for losing is fair; however, if we win a championship it will be because -- not in spite of -- LBJ.

Totally agree. I am not really worried at all.I've rarely seen a flawless coaching change and I have never seen a flawless transition with such roster turnover.

That said LeBron comments to me last night rang false to me in the same way Kyrie's did last year when he would play hero ball but miss shots and he would blame the loss on missing the shots instead of not getting the team involved.

I guess I am questioning whether LeBron had really learned his own lesson that he is trying to get across with this "play like garbage" plan of his.

People think when I criticize Kyrie our LeBron I think they are overrated or something or I don't think they are smart. Absolutely not. I just see them playing well after breaking of play's. I don't think they have to break play's to win the game.

 

[Bandwagoner305]

Not at all. I know for sure Kyrie and Dion don't. I do think LeBron is pointing fingers while having two ringless fingers pointing back at himself.

I don't like his effort so far, and it looks like a lot of the team is following suit especially on d.

I agree. The timing is terrible and he needs to let his game do the talking before he can call anyone out. He's playing very clumsy on both ends and playing soft right now. This is the first time that I've described his playing style as "soft". I hope he comes out with a statement game tonight, then he can call out the young stubborn backcourt for playing too selfishly and not doing everything it take to win.

 

[Arison]

Last issue with the happenings of last night, LeBron also got me upset in his post-game interview. Did a lot of finger pointing but seemed to take none of the blame. Can't do that when you don't have all that great of a game yourself...

I don't think Lebron's right, physically.

Why not come out, bust your ass, dominate every single possession on both ends, average 32+ and then say "This is the effort you need. Every single night. Now let's go out and play like champions."

Sorry, not buying it. Would love to be proven wrong, though.

EDIT: MAYBE, rather than showing other guys how bad their habits are, Lebron is trying to drum up some artificial adversity to see how everyone handles it, so that they don't have to deal with it later on. I think that is more plausible.

EDIT #2: Fred uses the word "sense" in every single question he asks just about. Really pisses me off.

Lebron just can't finish his shots clsoe to the rim, he can't elevate at all.
How does that support his theory? I would have accepted the fact that he plays passive by passing the ball to kyrie and let him do his thing but the fact that once he does take it on himself he fails in that

 

[Cavatt]

As you said, they haven't learned it up to this point, so there was a very good chance that even if they bought in right away, they'd revert back to their bad habits.

The point in LeBron doing it this way, this soon is that he wants to prove that if they go into bad habits, they're still gonna lose, super team or not, no matter how much talent is on the team.

Difference being that they're seeing it first hand from guys who have won multiple titles, and seeing that despite all the talent in the world, the bad habits will still result in losses.

I hope it works. I agree that it is a lesson the team needs to learn. Whether it's Tristan needing to pad out of the post, Kyrie dribbling through 4 defenders, or Dion shooting over outstretched hands, these guys have to play with each other.

I am most worried about the defense though and I don't see how sitting play's out helps anyone.

 

[Arison]

Totally agree. I am not really worried at all.I've rarely seen a flawless coaching change and I have never seen a flawless transition with such roster turnover.

That said LeBron comments to me last night rang false to me in the same way Kyrie's did last year when he would play hero ball but miss shots and he would blame the loss on missing the shots instead of not getting the team involved.

I guess I am questioning whether LeBron had really learned his own lesson that he is trying to get across with this "play like garbage" plan of his.

People think when I criticize Kyrie our LeBron I think they are overrated or something or I don't think they are smart. Absolutely not. I just see them playing well after breaking of play's. I don't think they have to break play's to win the game.

Kyrie is indeed overrated AT THE MOMENT.
you can't win championships by isolating like that, he has to understand the meaning of passing to open man, either penetrate and go hard to the basket or play the PnR smartly.
How does Kyrie defer from other point guards in the league? his handles and iso,
We don't like it atm and we don't need it so how does Kyrie help us?
there are faster pgs in the league, there are better passing pg in the league.
Coach and Kyrie gotta think of a way to be efficient, as I look at it Kyrie is built to be a 1 star team player and has to find his edge
As for Waiters, he has to be efficient even if he doesn't shoot or hit his shots, as of now his stats are not even other teams backup players stats.

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Mr 2 Rings doesn't know how to win people

We know exactly how to win.

We shouldnt have acquired Mr 2 Rings

He's not playing well in meaningless regular season games

 

[tristan+kyrie=$]

Early in the game the cavs were moving the ball and playing like a team and then guys like Thompson, Waiters, and Irving stopped doing that and the lead evaporated and Lebron wasn't himself....

 

[Ruken]

What worries me is the weight loss. Its been noticeable that he has to change his game he can't finish and has failed miserably at backing anyone down to this point. Pray its an adjustment and not an injury.

 

[Rich]

Yeah I noticed that play in particular too. To be honest I haven't watched LeBron much since he came into the league. Never felt like it. So far this season though, he seems to be saying all the right things but he's not leading by example which is a problem. Out of all the starters I actually think LeBron shows the least amount of effort during games and that's concerning. Don't know what's wrong with him.

This is hilarious to me. You show concern over a player that has more than proven himself in his career but have zero over a guy that has yet to prove a single thing in his career.

How some of you can be honestly concerned about LeBron while simultaneously saying Waiters will be fine is amazing.