Nitpick time: LeBron's minutes

[ecnirp]

I guess it wouldnt matter if the Heat sweep the Celtics.

As one poster said..

Benedict_Boozer wrote:
I still think the Heat coach is making a mistake playing Lebron so many minutes. It will be a repeat of last years Finals where he runs out of gas. Just bad minutes management when you have a 12pt lead going into the 4th, how are you gonna play the guy 2 straight quarters? Just seems dum

I dont understand it either. Even if the Heat didnt have a big lead. Spo has to relax and understand its a marathon and not a race. Sometimes he just has to have faith they can endure for a few more mins without LeBron.

Look at how grueling the Bulls series was. Yes it was 5 games but it was grueling. DWADE admitted he was drained vs. the Bulls because he was tired from the Celtics series. By the time of the Finals, Wade found his 2nd wind and it was LeBron who was drained. However, LeBron was playing tired and still playing 45 mins. I didnt get it. If he's not effective, rest him up some and see if he has more energy.

Im not trying to make this about the finals. Sorry if it comes across that way. But when you start to lack confidence and you're DEAD TIRED. You're going to underperform.

Suggestions....Spo has to stop starting LeBron at the start of the 2nd and 4th Qrt. Thats 6-8 mins that he can save LeBron right there.

LeBron does EVERYTHING. Offense, defensive, passing. Its hard for even a young to keep that pace.

Heck, Durant played 44 mins last night and struggled in the 4th cause he looked drained. And he's younger than LeBron.

Spo has done a great job of coaching the last 4 games. He made great 2nd half adjustments tonight against the C's and Rivers.

I just dont want Spo to get caught up in LeBron being "superman" and draining him. Rest does DWADE good, it can do the same for LeBron.

I know Im looking ahead to each game this series and hopefully the finals. But I just hope SPo is patient enough to keep LeBron in the 38-40 min range.

[nyk_buc]

Mandatory Lebron plays b/t 30-35 minutes at all times the rest of the series. They don't need Lebron to play 40 minutes to beat this team.

Tonight he played 44 minutes.

But you saw how this team sucked when Bron sat down in the 2nd quarter, momentum switched. So as a result, Spo is way too dependent on Lebron.

[ecnirp]

Mandatory Lebron plays b/t 30-35 minutes at all times the rest of the series. They don't need Lebron to play 40 minutes to beat this team.

Tonight he played 44 minutes.

But you saw how this team sucked when Bron sat down in the 2nd quarter, momentum switched. So as a result, Spo is way too dependent on Lebron.

I just say be patient. DWADE is a superstar who can play great without LeBron. Let DWADE do his thing while LeBron is out. A "fresh" LeBron is so full of energy he's darn near impossible to stop. Put nothing but shooters around Wade until LeBron's back rested up.


Look at the Spurs. Yes, I know they're old, but they trust their bench and dont burn out their stars.

[Miamis3rdRing]

I don't think him being exhausted was the sole reason for what happened in the Finals. Definitely played a role but there were other factors. Just as I don't believe Wade being exhausted is the reason he played poorly for the most part against Chicago.

With Bosh out it's going to be rough on LeBron & Wade.

Just hope that if we do win this series, it happens fast and that Spurs-Thunder goes the distance. I think those extra days of rest will mean more than a couple less minutes per game.

[JustAwesome]

All four teams are pretty good, so I wouldn't be surprised if the remaining three series goes the distance.

[dolphinatik]

Spo rope-a-doped the Celtics. That adjustment in the second 1/2 to go without point guards and force Rondo on Wade kept Rondo in check. Lebrons minutes were fine. With Wade handling he got some rest while still on the floor. The Heat also looked for early shots even when they had the lead which got us good offensive rebounds. Gj by Spo even though he still needs to be fired at the end of the season.

[Zasterror]

Its more so the fact that Wade never really has a chance to play without LeBron for an extended period of time. Spo has to trust in Wade more (especially in the 2nd quarter) so LeBron can get less minutes.

[DefenseWins]

there were times in the game I saw LeBron could have opportunities for rest. Especially when we have a lead.

Spo does have to do a better job in that department.

[arsenic]

I don't understand why Spo doesn't have Dwade play a few more minutes sometimes and have Lebron rest if he's that worried about losing a lead. At least switch it up. Spo is insane.

[Pimpwerx]

Maybe Bron's fatigue wasn't the issue in the Finals. Spo knows better than us. I don't understand leaning on him this many minutes, but a couple things to consider:

1. Bron is in his prime, these minutes in the playoffs shouldn't be a big deal given how Spo managed his minutes during the regular season.

2. This series is considerably easier on him on the defensive end. He spent most of tonight guarding Pierce and Rondo. Not very physical assignments coming off a series where he spent minutes on West, Granger and Hibbert.

I'm hoping for the best. I don't like the allotment of minutes, but I'm gonna trust in Spo's judgement on this one. He seems to be paying attention to past mistakes, so he must not think this is one. PEACE.

[krikor]

You cannot afford to rest, and take gambles.Lebron is most important piece of the team, from being best rebounder to best player maker on the team to best defender..

Anyway, it was 66 game season.

[ecnirp]

You cannot afford to rest, and take gambles.Lebron is most important piece of the team, from being best rebounder to best player maker on the team to best defender..

Anyway, it was 66 game season.

Yea, but it was a shortened season..

And to the other posters...No Im not saying LeBron being tired was the sole reason he struggled in the finals.

Just saying he was in a bit of a funk and playing heavy mins wasnt helping.

Again. Im nitpicking. Just want Spo to rest him up some. DWADE can carry the load when he's resting.

[EscapoTHB]

I don't think Bron wants to come out. He seems like he just wants to have every oppportunity to push a title over the goal line. Not enough respect from the national media about the scale of what he's doing right now. He and Wade have put the team on their back. It's incredible.

[Pimpwerx]

I don't think Bron wants to come out. He seems like he just wants to have every oppportunity to push a title over the goal line. Not enough respect from the national media about the scale of what he's doing right now. He and Wade have put the team on their back. It's incredible.

Excellent way to put it. The scale of this undertaking is monumental. Players and coach are all under extraordinary pressure to succeed. They have to win it all. Be the best, that's the only option. That's crazy. PEACE.

[qm22]

The positive side to this is if it contributes to a Heat sweep they are certainly going to get a good deal of extra rest for the finals. I honestly don't think LeBron is needed for 44 minutes to sweep the Celtics though. In any case LeBron did not look overworked this game, despite his workload he was cruising.

[Heat11114]

Short series means more rest. A four game series means done on June 3rd with the earliest possible NBA finals game on June 10th and more likely June 12th.

[zogster]

The Finals start June 12th, saw a commercial today. So if we dispose of the Celtics in 5 games or less, LeBron will get plenty of rest.

I would hope if the minutes are tiring that he would let Spo know and Spo would adjust accordingly.

[TheDon008]

Lebron can play 40 mins... With bosh out we definitely need Lebron playing extended mins. When Bosh is in with his line up, he typically holds down whatever momentum we have going. With him being out Bron has to play those mins so that the opposing team does not gain momentum. You would Like Mr. Wade to do it but lately he dosent decide to go into GOD mode until the second half.

Its all good. He's playing phenomenal.

[-MK-]

Best with Rest - LeBron James in the Playoffs

[TheDon008]

Best with Rest - LeBron James in the Playoffs

Interesting article...

Some how we gotta figure out how to get the most out of Lebron while he's on the court.