This team isn't close to contention with the way the roster is designed. They're starting three bad defenders and one okay guy, you need stops to be successful in the post-season. They need significant defensive upgrades at C and SG to improve, this season is likely wasted.
I agree with the suggestion that the dude's worn out. Remember, the Heat faded badly down the stretch last season before flaming out in the Finals. I think LeBron is spent after carrying the Heat the last few years. Plus he's been in the league since 2003. That's a lot of mileage despite still being in his late 20's. Unless Love and Irving step up, he'll be forced to carry the Cavs much like with the Heat(and Cavs prior to "The Decision") which he may no longer be capable of doing.
Uh oh. Stephen A Smith says Lebron is frustrated and that the Cavs better not think that he won't leave Cleveland again. And thus it begins...again...
[Article Durvasa posted] LeBron opts for new leadership style Stephen A just said "He would leave again. Don't you doubt it. The Cavs, as an organization, all the things you did to get him back, you might want to continue to do. He'll leave again if you don't treat him and the team correctly." Says he's frustrated. Frustrated Thompson didn't get paid. Coddle him? No. Cater to him? Yes.
He'll be fine but the Cavs are not a good team as it stands now. Irving and Waiters are both black holes and Irving couldn't guard his shadow.
Why would he be physically worn out at The start of the season? I just hope he isn't emotionally drained and losing his fire or injured.
Well, he did only sign a 2-year deal. I could easily see him bailing on the Cavs again if the organization can't get their sh-t together.
LeBron actually has a player option for the 2014-15 too... So he could theoretically bolt after this season.
It reminds me of that NFL thread after 2 weeks where people said Brady is done and Luck is a bust lol
Meh, it was pretty predictable that they would struggle to mesh out of the gate. Remember Miami struggled to stay in the playoff picture the first half of the season they were put together. They still managed to get to the finals. I'm guessing the same thing will happen here. They'll put it together somewhere around the all star break.
Did everyone forget the Bulls game? Game 1 vs NYK - lots of hype for their first game Game 2 vs Bulls - stellar game to beat the other top East team Game 3 vs Blazers - took plays off In game 1 he was active, just seemed to try to do too much to get teammates involved and played for the moment instead of his normal self. Basically this 'flatness' is based off of just game 3. Not to excuse it, but it seems like a lot to glean from a single game. I agree he has a ton of mileage and it might be a sign of things to come in taking a more reserved role, but I wouldn't draw any conclusions before we even reach 10-20 games. Most rational observers knew this would be a work in progress.
If you actually watched the Bulls game and not base things off of stats you'd see that his body language was the same as in all the other games, he just managed to hit a few more shots (he took quite a lot of them too). Honestly, he looks like he's playing with a stick up his ass, literally, go watch him play, he is in a straight stance the whole time, it's like he can't (or won't for some reason) bend his back. He couldn't get past Dunleavy on a couple of occasions.
He looked like he lost a step last season. I wondered why we were suddenly watching videos on YouTube of him doing his own version of the dunk contest against himself after Heat practices. It seemed like he was saying "I can still dunk like I used to" because he wasn't doing it in actual games the way he used to. With all the mileage don't be surprised if he regresses significantly this season. For as skilled as he has become, he has always relied on being the best athlete on the court to get his shot off. Don't expect him to develop a deadly post game to compensate for his diminished athleticism. He doesn't have that kind of touch. That said, a regressed Lebron is still somewhere in the top 3 of active players.
