Category: Cleveland Cavaliers (Page 15 of 88)

The press is noticing what everyone in Cleveland already knows. After an early season slumber, LeBron James is back, playing like the dominant player he should be. He has even stopped kissing his wrists when he goes to the foul line.

Here’s Bill Simmons, who was one of many writers ripping LeBron a couple of months ago:

Ever since LeBron James decided to start breaking a sweat after the All-Star break, the Cavaliers fans have been sending me these “LeBron is shoving it in your face!” e-mails. Look, I’m GLAD he’s playing hard. My original point was that, if he kept going at his pre-All-Star pace and didn’t start giving a crap, the whole “What’s wrong with LeBron?” subplot would have become the dominant story of the season. And yesterday’s well-done ESPN.com feature by Brian Windhorst tackles that very point. The fact remains, the Global Icon was on cruise control for three months of a six-month season. I don’t know how this is a good thing.

Cavs get a big one on the road – Lebron continues to assert himself.

It’s about time.

Is it possible that Hughes and James are waking up just in time for the postseason?

Brian Windhorst argues that LeBron’s inspired play over the past several weeks is at least in part a response to his many critics who have questioned his passion in te first half of the season.

Maybe this is what LeBron needed. Hopefully he’s pissed off and wants to shut up guys like Bill Simmons.

I don’t care what it takes to motivate him – I just want to see him motivated. If he keeps this up, the Cavs have a real chance to get to the Finals.

Yes, I’m master of the obvious, but Terry Pluto cited some troubling stats that put this in perpsective:

Now that James seems to have regained his legs and is playing some of his best basketball, it’s time to make free throws. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he’s shooting 59 percent (27-of-46) in the final five minutes of games when the score is within four points. That’s how they define clutch free throws. Overall, he’s at 67 percent, and that’s just too low for a guy who has averaged 75 percent in his first three pro seasons.

LeBron has started to step things up the past several games. He’s finally realizing that he has to drive to the basket and stop settling for jumpers. Hopefully he’ll emerge from the haze that seems to have overtaken his game for the first part of the season.

Now he has to get things right on the line. Stop kissing your damn wrists before every free throw and start concentrating on making the shot.

Hopefully this is all part of LeBron’s maturation process. Let’s hope he gets everything worked out by playoff time.