That was clearly a choke job, but every player has them at some point. Nevertheless, there was a noticeable decline last season in terms of his quickness, and it looks like it wasn't just weight related. He's also struggling with having to play with a far more ball dominant guard than Wade. It would all work if the Cavs could play defense, but as configured I don't see them ever becoming as good as Miami during James' first three seasons there.
James was a key reason why Miami fell short last season. He can run away from Wade, but he cannot distance himself from his own decline. Outstanding player? Yes, but not as dominating.
I'm beginning to wonder whether it is attributable to PEDs as well, but then Lebron lost some explosiveness last season, prior to the massive weight loss. That's why I sort of accept the cover story that he lost the weight to compensate. But I am very suspicious.
That quote really should haunt him. Windhorst really needs to recalibrate his journalistic standards. His reputation was that he was not in the Lebron camp, despite being a semi-follower. He's at the crossroads: Taking a hard line means freezing himself for the Lebron PR machine, but it also means restoring credibility. I haven't taken Windhorst seriously for years, despite the rep.
Let's say he puts up 2 more great seasons, but the Cavs fail to get out of the ECF, then he enters a steady decline and they never win a ring. I wonder how his legacy in Cleveland will be perceived.
Its early but the cavs look bad defensively. I always thought he was gifted great defensive teams with his early cavs and heat teams. His defensive prowness isnt enough to change any bad-average defensive team around. Unlike some of his nut huggers claimed.
Although he's a very good perimeter defender, He was never a game changer on that end but instead was a piece that benefited from his teammates and the schemes his coaches utilized.
Actually James' first Cleveland team was a better fit. They played very good defense, and didn't demand the ball. Gloria James jokes aside, Delonte West was actually a much better fit than Kyrie Irving. West could function adequately as a PG when needed, didn't need the ball to be effective on offense, and was the best post scorer on that Cavs team (a James weakness back then). He was a very good defender. This Cleveland team collectively has more offensive punch but then I don't see them capable of playing defense like those old Cav teams.
Could the Cavs turn it around? Yes, the EC is absolutely anemic this season. Even though they haven't the defensive abilities physically, they could certainly compensate with better intensity and team defense. To get there they will have to listen to Coach Blatt. Supposedly James isn't a Blatt supporter, and if that is true then James is part of the problem.
Actually James' first Cleveland team was a better fit. They played very good defense, and didn't demand the ball. Gloria James jokes aside, Delonte West was actually a much better fit than Kyrie Irving. West could function adequately as a PG when needed, didn't need the ball to be effective on offense, and was the best post scorer on that Cavs team (a James weakness back then). He was a very good defender. This Cleveland team collectively has more offensive punch but then I don't see them capable of playing defense like those old Cav teams.
Could the Cavs turn it around? Yes, the EC is absolutely anemic this season. Even though they haven't the defensive abilities physically, they could certainly compensate with better intensity and team defense. To get there they will have to listen to Coach Blatt. Supposedly James isn't a Blatt supporter, and if that is true then James is part of the problem.
If James isn't a Blatt supporter, Blatt has zero chance of succeeding there.
You can tell by how they play that they're not listening to him. Stylistically, this team bares no resemblance to his previous teams.
Actually James' first Cleveland team was a better fit. They played very good defense, and didn't demand the ball. Gloria James jokes aside, Delonte West was actually a much better fit than Kyrie Irving. West could function adequately as a PG when needed, didn't need the ball to be effective on offense, and was the best post scorer on that Cavs team (a James weakness back then). He was a very good defender. This Cleveland team collectively has more offensive punch but then I don't see them capable of playing defense like those old Cav teams.
Could the Cavs turn it around? Yes, the EC is absolutely anemic this season. Even though they haven't the defensive abilities physically, they could certainly compensate with better intensity and team defense. To get there they will have to listen to Coach Blatt. Supposedly James isn't a Blatt supporter, and if that is true then James is part of the problem.
That first Cavs team that LBJ was on was built around him....
This particular Cavs seem seems like its the Cleveland imitation of the Miami superfriends, except Kyrie probably could care less about Lebron, and Kevin Love is just tagging along because he needs somebody to carry the load for once.
I think Lebron is just letting his team struggle by design. _________________ "Now, if life is coffee, then the jobs, money & position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold & contain life, but the quality of life doesn't change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."
Don't know if they didn't have a timeout to advance it midcourt, but I hope they didn't because that was a lousy play having a guy who isn't the best dribbler in the world take it up thru a halfcourt trap. Should've had their point back there to speed it up with Bron up court a bit breaking off to receive the ball, being that it's about a 90% chance he could've shoved a defender off to get himself open without being whistled.
No PED's no glory for lebron. its quite clear to me right now
_________________ “It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I’d been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on the earth as though I had a right to be here.”
― James Baldwin, Collected Essays
No PED's no glory for lebron. its quite clear to me right now
Imagine what he'll be like in 7 years. Damn sure won't be 27/5/4. _________________ “It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I’d been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on the earth as though I had a right to be here.”
― James Baldwin, Collected Essays
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