Reading through the last few pages I became horrified. I started to feel very pessimistic about the current state of the Cavs. However, I actually reread Maximus post and it really is just a lot of opinion and people are running with it.
There is perception and there is reality. I'm not sure most Cavs fans really followed LeBron's career the last couple of years. People are accepting the struggles of the team and LeBron as proof of a sabotage. However, if you really watched LeBron the last two years you'd know he's been coasting for quite a while. The last time LeBron really went all out during the regular season was in 2012 after coming off the epic failure in the finals to the Mavs. In 2013 LeBron figured out how to perfectly exert less energy, but be very efficient. He developed the on/off switch and it would really help the Heat over power teams. Last year, LeBron was even worse with the coasting. He knew Miami was dependent on him and just really picked his spots. He was in chill mode for a lot of last year. However, Stephen A Smith would tell you that last year was LeBron's most exhausting year because Wade missed so many games.
As someone who has followed LeBron's career from the first Cleveland go round, to the Miami years, till the return here is my breakdown of it all.
1. People cant accept the fact that LeBron feels "bigger than Blatt". However, thats just the truth. It was the same issue for him with Spo in Miami. This young/green coach had been handed the keys to three top 10 players and had to learn on the fly to handle it. That job was too big for Spo and it ended up costing them. Yes, LeBron choked. But he was outclassed by Carlisle as well. LeBron is the one who has championships now. I just think its difficult to assume he's be "all in" on Blatt yet. In a lot of ways he wants Blatt to win him over. Eventually Spo improved and LeBron had has moment of clarity.
2. The failure in the finals forced LeBron to reinvent himself. It forced him to adjust his game and buy in on the Heat culture because he had no choice.
3. LeBron is to blame for why the Cavs are 21-20 instead of 31-10. I really believe that. But not in the sabotage sort of belief people here are running with. The Cavs would have never struggled out the gates if "LeBron was LeBron". There was so many games the Cavs lost because the best player in the league was simply not playing like it. Then when you add in the injury/rest period its why the Cavs record is the way it is. This cant be unexpected because the Cavs got LeBron after the four most grueling years of his career. Miami's system over works players. There is a reason Wade has been breaking down. There is a reason why LeBron abandoned ship. I firmly believe he came to Cleveland with the hope of extending his career, not over working himself. The problem is LeBron was obviously hurt to start the year and he couldnt find the "on" switch he use to find in Miami when he would coast.
4. I blame LeBron for his immaturity in dealing with the fact he could flip the switch. He shouldn't have blamed teammates and coaches when it was him not doing his part as well.
5. LeBron said it best during his initial presser. There is nothing that he hasnt seen before in terms of the media/fans reaction. So while Cavs fans/media are overreacting to everything. LeBron is at ease. Why? Because the media scrutiny and intensity is still only a fraction as to what he endured in Miami.
6. However, I get fans Cavs being stressed. Its kind of become accepted to be pessimistic when things dont start off great. Cavs fans were duped by LeBron before. Cavs fans were duped by LeBron when he actually had a team winning 60+ games, so why trust him when things arent going well? I get it. However, the truth is that the team would be right on schedule if LeBron's injuries had not prevented him for starting out the gate better.
7. People are going to have to eventually accept that just cause LeBron doesnt embrace Blatt....doesnt mean he's trying to sabotage him. The last few years have shown that LeBron is all about self preservation. Winning 60+ games in Cleveland proved to mean nothing. Playing and overexerting yourself while hurt....keeps you hurt (learned from Wade). One of these days Blatt (in my opinion) is going to win LeBron over. Thats just how it is ultimately going to be for the Cavs to take that next step.
I get people being upset. I get people being disappointed and not liking how LeBron has handled things. However, I believe once the Cavs really find their groove (less minutes for LeBron so he's not coasting as much/Figuring out Love's involvement/Shump,JR, Mozgov really finding their roles/Blatt's leadership and X's and O's really being on point) that they can get to the ECF.
Maybe I'm naive. But I believe in Blatt, LeBron and the Cavs. Its just an early, but slow process. But I still believe.
TL; DR
There is perception and there is reality. I'm not sure most Cavs fans really followed LeBron's career the last couple of years. People are accepting the struggles of the team and LeBron as proof of a sabotage. However, if you really watched LeBron the last two years you'd know he's been coasting for quite a while. The last time LeBron really went all out during the regular season was in 2012 after coming off the epic failure in the finals to the Mavs. In 2013 LeBron figured out how to perfectly exert less energy, but be very efficient. He developed the on/off switch and it would really help the Heat over power teams. Last year, LeBron was even worse with the coasting. He knew Miami was dependent on him and just really picked his spots. He was in chill mode for a lot of last year. However, Stephen A Smith would tell you that last year was LeBron's most exhausting year because Wade missed so many games.
As someone who has followed LeBron's career from the first Cleveland go round, to the Miami years, till the return here is my breakdown of it all.
1. People cant accept the fact that LeBron feels "bigger than Blatt". However, thats just the truth. It was the same issue for him with Spo in Miami. This young/green coach had been handed the keys to three top 10 players and had to learn on the fly to handle it. That job was too big for Spo and it ended up costing them. Yes, LeBron choked. But he was outclassed by Carlisle as well. LeBron is the one who has championships now. I just think its difficult to assume he's be "all in" on Blatt yet. In a lot of ways he wants Blatt to win him over. Eventually Spo improved and LeBron had has moment of clarity.
2. The failure in the finals forced LeBron to reinvent himself. It forced him to adjust his game and buy in on the Heat culture because he had no choice.
3. LeBron is to blame for why the Cavs are 21-20 instead of 31-10. I really believe that. But not in the sabotage sort of belief people here are running with. The Cavs would have never struggled out the gates if "LeBron was LeBron". There was so many games the Cavs lost because the best player in the league was simply not playing like it. Then when you add in the injury/rest period its why the Cavs record is the way it is. This cant be unexpected because the Cavs got LeBron after the four most grueling years of his career. Miami's system over works players. There is a reason Wade has been breaking down. There is a reason why LeBron abandoned ship. I firmly believe he came to Cleveland with the hope of extending his career, not over working himself. The problem is LeBron was obviously hurt to start the year and he couldnt find the "on" switch he use to find in Miami when he would coast.
4. I blame LeBron for his immaturity in dealing with the fact he could flip the switch. He shouldn't have blamed teammates and coaches when it was him not doing his part as well.
5. LeBron said it best during his initial presser. There is nothing that he hasnt seen before in terms of the media/fans reaction. So while Cavs fans/media are overreacting to everything. LeBron is at ease. Why? Because the media scrutiny and intensity is still only a fraction as to what he endured in Miami.
6. However, I get fans Cavs being stressed. Its kind of become accepted to be pessimistic when things dont start off great. Cavs fans were duped by LeBron before. Cavs fans were duped by LeBron when he actually had a team winning 60+ games, so why trust him when things arent going well? I get it. However, the truth is that the team would be right on schedule if LeBron's injuries had not prevented him for starting out the gate better.
7. People are going to have to eventually accept that just cause LeBron doesnt embrace Blatt....doesnt mean he's trying to sabotage him. The last few years have shown that LeBron is all about self preservation. Winning 60+ games in Cleveland proved to mean nothing. Playing and overexerting yourself while hurt....keeps you hurt (learned from Wade). One of these days Blatt (in my opinion) is going to win LeBron over. Thats just how it is ultimately going to be for the Cavs to take that next step.
I get people being upset. I get people being disappointed and not liking how LeBron has handled things. However, I believe once the Cavs really find their groove (less minutes for LeBron so he's not coasting as much/Figuring out Love's involvement/Shump,JR, Mozgov really finding their roles/Blatt's leadership and X's and O's really being on point) that they can get to the ECF.
Maybe I'm naive. But I believe in Blatt, LeBron and the Cavs. Its just an early, but slow process. But I still believe.
TL; DR
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Still sort of sounds bad but I still count it as a bonding moment. Nothing is going to ruin that moment for me.
