Bleacher Report - Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James Needs to Take a Hint—and Take His Game Inside

Tom Delamater — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:37 -0500

Still a team in search of its identity, the Cleveland Cavaliers stutter-stepped their way to an 8-4 record through the first month of the season, placing them barely ahead of Milwaukee atop the NBA’s Central Division.

A stinging loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday illustrated one of the team’s glaring weaknesses, while an ongoing trend points to a surprising development in their offensive arsenal.

First, the good news: This team, believe it or not, can shoot. Through 12 games, the Cavaliers are nailing an impressive 44.6 percent from the three-point line. It’s early, but that’s clearly a major improvement over last year’s 39 percent success rate.

What happened? Anthony Parker, for one thing. And Daniel Gibson has rediscovered his long-distance touch, something that eluded him for most of the 2008-2009 campaign.

Parker, starting in place of Delonte West, has nailed a sizzling 55.3 percent of his three-pointers (26-for-47), while Gibson has connected on 46.9 percent (23-for-49). Keeping pace is Mo Williams, who has clicked on almost half of his treys (26-for-54, 48.1 percent).

Talk about stretching the defense. Together, the threesome is averaging a cool 50 percent from downtown.

Which begs the question: What is LeBron James doing hanging around the perimeter?

Astonishingly, it is James, not one of his hot-shooting teammates, who leads the Cavs in three-point attempts, with 55. He’s hit 20—a respectable 36.4 percent, better than any single season of his career—but the numbers suggest it’s time for James to live up to his off-season promise to take his game inside.

Instead, the Cavs have often regressed into their old bad habits. There’s James, dribbling and dribbling. There’s James, sizing up the basket. There’s James, firing up another long jumper. Meanwhile, the rest of the team shifts into “let’s-wait-and-see-what-LeBron-does” mode, stymieing the offense and playing into the hands of grateful opponents.

A 17-point lead at Washington dissolved into a 17-point loss, and James was as responsible as anyone, misfiring repeatedly down the stretch as the Wizards delighted in their good fortune. Similar leads were blown in what turned out to be unnecessarily close wins against Utah and Golden State. The Cavaliers have been unable to put away overmatched opponents.

James still scored 34 points in the Washington loss, so it’s not like he’s terrible. But the numbers suggest it’s time for him to take his Karl Malone-like physique into the paint and get physical. This is especially true when Shaquille O’Neal and Anderson Varajeo are on the sidelines, as they have been this week due to injuries.

But even when the team has its full complement of big men, James needs to live down low more often. There’s more room there than people think; remember the way Parrish, McHale and Bird stayed out of each other’s way in Boston? James on the block could—make that should—be an unstoppable force. He just has to want it.

LeBron is not a terrible shooter. But he’s not a great one, either. In past seasons, he’s had to try everything possible to score. For the most part, he’s delivered.

But the early returns indicate that this is a changed Cavaliers team. He should change with it.

In last year’s Eastern Conference finals, the Orlando Magic had the Cavs’ heads spinning with their three-point prowess. Yet their team percentage of 40.8 during that series pales in comparison to Cleveland’s mark this fall.

Think about what their guards are doing: 50 percent from the three-point line? Are you kidding me?

There’s room for LeBron to move on offense as needed, and he remains perhaps the most unstoppable force in the open court that the league has ever seen.

But he’s not the best three-point shooter on the team. In fact, he's not even close. He is, however, an all-league defender, an intimidating shot-blocker, and a strong rebounder—three qualities every team needs in the post.

The jury is still out on Cleveland’s Shaq experiment, and what it will mean over the long haul. But one thing is clear right now: The Cavs have better long-range weapons than James. It’s up to Mike Brown to instill the needed discipline on his team, and his star, so that those weapons can fire on all cylinders.

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Before They Self-Destruct, Wizards Beat Cleveland

Jarrett Carter — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:09:33 -0500

A tale of two halves, a tale of two players. Choose your own lede to describe how the Washington Wizards bounced the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-91 in a legitimate must-win game , but make sure that the point about the Wizards avoiding destruction finds a prominent spot in your description.

In the first half, every possession pointed to another disappointing meltdown for the Wizards. Bad shots were as abundant as defensive lapses, and the emerging theme of “Same old Wizards” begun to forge a shape out of the unkind iron. The saving grace? The return of Antawn Jamison, who didn’t believe in rust or passed up shot opportunities in the first half. His rebounding and funny-style offensive moves to the basket kept the Cavs defense honest and off-balance, while keeping the Wizards from getting run out of the building.

And with just over four minutes remaining in the third, with a LeBron James nine-point run smirking in their faces, Gilbert Arenas stemmed the tide and gave the Wizards the confidence to take quietly good shots in the raucous moments that mattered most. After a horrendous first half, Arenas finished the quarter with 10 points, an assist and zero turnovers in the final four minutes.

They would prove the decisive statistics in the Wizards three point lead entering the fourth quarter, and the tone-setting play that would open the gates for Earl Boykins and Caron Butler to frustrate the Cavs throughout the last period.

Caution yourself against classifying this win as “season-saving.” Yes, the rotations were better for Flip Saunders, the defensive commitment in the second half was more noticeably solid, and there was fun to be had on the floor even in tense moments. But there are miles to go before the Eastern Conference can be called out for sleeping on the Wizards; specifically within a Wizards west coast road trip with games against Oklahoma City and San Antonio over the next few days. They still have injuries, they still have trust issues, and they still have quite a few problems.

But this game can serve as a memory to the Wizards of what injury-free, focused basketball looks and feels like. Rivals can be vanquished, stats can be compiled and expectations can be met. Before tonight’s game, the Wizards were on the verge of implosion for reasons that they couldn’t fully control. They were headed for self-destruction, but allowed experience and trust to make a big game smaller than their team objective.

It’s hard to say if the Wizards’ playoff hopes can rediscover life, but if nothing else, they’ve convinced us that they at least have the talent and mettle to die another day.

Technorati Tags: Antawn Jamison , Cleveland Cavaliers , Gilbert Arenas , Washington Wizards

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For LeBron, Flight No. 23 Next Destination Is New York

Jonathan Mathis — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:00:47 -0500

Considering the NBA has turned into an entertaining site, rather than an average basketball contest, LeBron James is globally admired across the world and emerged into the worldwide leader in basketball. If he migrated to Europe, the Euroleague would grasp our attention and routinely become an organic site for entertainment I suspect.

The entertainment capital of the world doesn’t reside in Los Angeles, Chicago, or even Cleveland; the town where amusement precisely rocks. The famous rock band, the Beatles, might have rocked the town of Cleveland, aggrandizing the music industry of course.

But not since 1969 has sporting supremacy rocked staining a starved sports town, cursed with sporting indignities. The Shot, The Fumble, The Drive and The Choke are features of the hapless town’s debacles, which held an entire community under affliction until James engendered and rejuvenated greatness in Cleveland

Calmly, a flustered fan base waited and welcomed in the arrival of a newborn superstar, James, to overhaul a renaissance era. Greeted with open arms, James emerged into a global superstar and franchise icon, showcasing high-flying dunks and unprecedented up-tempo style, which no other athlete could imitate.

Lately, observers are curious and speculating on LeBron’s next destination. A departure from Ohio to a new state is crestfallen for average Ohio natives, but the Ohio native himself, cannot appear anywhere without been pestered with endless questioning, regarding his next home when he’ll become a free agent in 2010.

Guessing with all the idolatry and praise he offers to the Big Apple, it delivers unanimous vibes to overjoyed Knicks fans that King James’ next flight is a one-way ticket to New York. In addition, James is a popular superstar and suitable for playing in publicized state.

He fits in well, given the enthusiastic reception shown proudly to the New York Yankees in recent memory. Remember, James made his presents at the American League playoff game in Cleveland a few years ago, and elicited controversy for wearing a Yankees’ cap when the Indians hosted New York.

That’s not all.

He co-hosted the NBA All-Star Weekend party last February with good friend and Nets co-owner Jay-Z. But what bothered Cleveland fans the most, was the promotion of his shoe when Nike announced the introduction of a new shoe endorsed by LeBron containing pinstripes and Yankees' colors, specifically created to produce revenue in New York. From all the chronicles, it is logical to forecast where Flight No.23 will wind up come next summer.

LeBron’s lifestyle will drastically relocate from the rock and roll site to the biggest stage on America at Madison Avenue. A Night on Broadway will transform into A Night on LeBron’s Stage, and longing fans will suddenly get their wishes. At the world’s most famous arena, each time the King enters the building, an energetic crowd goes nuts.

In a celeb atmosphere, fans share their appreciation for LeBron in an entertaining contest where all eyes anxiously stare at the league’s most entertaining guard, waiting for the next breathtaking moment to turn it into a Kodak moment. On Seventh Avenue, the communities' love for LeBron is obvious with the advertisement of a 10-story billboard, attempting everything to persuade the league’s most admired star.

If so, they’ll become the next witnesses of the high-flying, action-packed intensity. Whenever LeBron showcase an epic masterpiece at the Madison Square Garden, fans lobbies for his assistance in the 2010 season. Turns out, fans are thrilled watching and worshiping James more than the Knicks as a team. The sporting scene alters an entertaining and intense show, erupting a screaming party among celebs and non-celebs.

In the course of a century, players have elevated to an apex, posting high-scoring stats, dazzling observers who stares onto the hardwood from inside the world’s most notable arena. Before LeBron even came along, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan dazzled and finished nights off in an epic theater. A year from now, LeBron’s legacy might live on at New York, where he can rejuvenate a downcast town and uplift the Knicks as he has done for the Cavs for the entire decade.

Immediately, his presence will produce ticket sales, television ratings and apparel as LeBron gradually emerges into a role model and celeb. The Knicks are willing to pay a stud as dominant and famous as the King, which explains their reason for clearing salary space. President of basketball operations, Donnie Walsh, clearly knows what type of superstar fans is pleading for in renewing aspiration.

And the Knicks as an organization knows a superstar is important if seeking to regain spotlight and return to championship favorites. Fittingly, LeBron is coach Mike D’Antoni’s guy mainly for the up-tempo offensive system he’s committed to running, and with LeBron’s sterling playmaking it can bring memories back to MSG. His ability to drive in traffic and find open shooters is helpful to an undefined team.

In Cleveland, LeBron is fantastic at expanding the floor and racing up and down the court to create peerless plays. Being an unselfish superstar who believes in passing the ball first and getting teammates involved reminds us he’s the reigning NBA’s Most Valuable Player, after stockpiling the most votes last season. He’s also one of the richest athletes in salary and endorsements, and an idol for children globally at the age of 24, which are admirable honors.

It remains uncertain if LeBron will actually take his next flight to New York, though I personally believe all the speculations and predictions on that his next flight is to the Big Apple. On July 1, the entire world is going to be on LeBron Watch, trying to figure out his next destination.

As of now, we are curious to see where he lands, counting down each day and wondering if he’ll abandon his native town. One thing left on his agenda is winning his first championship, following multiple titles elsewhere if he decides to migrate elsewhere. Amid the season, LeBron is focus on winning a title with Cleveland and ignores everlasting speculations, pondering every NBA free agent rumor.

He’ll, indeed, be free to move across country next summer. If he leaves, it probably will be for NY.

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Reign Him In: LeBron James' Ego Threatening to Ruin a Wonderful Thing

Andrew Nuschler — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:29:05 -0500

Uh-oh.

Like many around the globe, I've been fascinated by the premature legend of LeBron James and even more stunned by his ongoing realization of it. The kid was anointed the Next Big Thing when he was, what, a sophomore in high school?

Possibly a junior?

That means King James was a prince at the age of 14 or 15 and was bequeathed the keys to the throne room about the same time he got the keys to an automobile. That's a considerable burden of potential and expectation to carry around at such a young age, but James has—to this point—delivered at every step of his maturation.

However, we might be seeing the openings of a few cracks in his flawless public persona.

First, there was the ugly-yet-understandable episode after the Orlando Magic sent James' Cleveland Cavaliers home for the summer from the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals. That night, we were all witnesses to LeBron's insolent display of poor sportsmanship.

The Chosen One stalked off the court, refusing to shake the victor's hand.

Ultimately, the scene could be dismissed as a momentary blip on the radar of a feverish competitor and born winner. You must learn to lose with dignity just as you must learn to win with it and it's entirely understandable that a beast like LeBron James would learn the latter well-before the former.

Then came the posterizing of James at his own camp and subsequent confiscation of its evidence. Initial reports were that Nike order seizure of the tape, but eventually rumors surfaced that it was King James, himself, who lay down the kibosh.

Strike two on the intolerable ego front—what professional basketball player hasn't been dunked on at some point? For that matter, what college player hasn't?

Furthermore, it was a freakin' summer camp! Only someone who fancies himself really special would feel the need to spasm into damage control over something so trivial. Dear me...

Now there's this over-before-it-started crusade to get Michael Jordan's No. 23 retired across the National Basketball Association a la Jackie Robinson's No. 42 in Major League Baseball.

If you want to read a genuine Sherman-through-the-South assault on James' stunt, check this outstanding work by FOX Sports' Kevin Hench. I'm not sure I agree with all of Hench's observations, but he raises more than a couple scathing points (like the bit about retiring MJ's number while switching to Bill Russell's No. 6).

Regardless, I don't think you need to go to such extrapolations to see trouble brewing in LeBron James' world.

From his own lips: "I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I'm starting a petition, and I've got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I'm not going to wear No. 23 , then nobody else should be able to wear it." [Emphasis added]

Whoa, whoa, whoa—is the NBA supposed to retire Michael Jordan's number because of how great the man who wore the jersey was? Or because of how great the guy suggesting its retirement is?

Is this about His Airness or His Heirness?

Perhaps it was a simple slip of the tongue by a still-maturing 24-year-old youngster. Maybe it was an awkward, but innocuous manifestation of James' necessarily strong self-confidence. Maybe it was merely poor execution of a noble tribute.

Or maybe it was strike three.

Given the last six months or so as well as the regal aura that's always permeated LeBron James' immediate vicinity, I'd say there's reason to worry. The man's always had a healthy opinion of himself—no doubt about it. But this could be something different.

The Association's premiere young talent may be developing its most insufferable ego.

And nobody wants to see that.

**www.pva.org**

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