RealGM

LeBron James has been diagnosed with left knee and low back strains, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced Thursday.

These conditions will be treated via a multimodal approach consisting of anti-inflammatories, rehabilitation, training room treatments, and rest.

James is currently projected to be out for the next 2 weeks.

Via RealGM Staff Report

2 weeks? Get well Bron...

K-Love is dealing with pain issues also, but he will be relied upon in James absence as well as Kyrie. Basketball works at it's best when it's just a two prong attack, trying to involve a 3rd as a main weapon has proven difficult unless one guy is willing to totally downgrade his game. I wouldn't say the Cavs are holding on for dear life, at worse they can play .500 ball and be OK in the east. Maybe the Cavs work out some of their kinks, James is smart enough to adjust to what he sees in those 2 weeks and will just blend his game in.

It has begun. . .

Imo this is just that san antonio spurs approach. For the cavs to make a run in the playoffs, lebron will have to shoulder a lot of the load. Why exert all that energy now? The cavs don't need homecourt advantage in the playoffs to beat raptors or hawks, cause those teams simply lack experience. Chasing homecourt advantage for the finals is pointless anyway.

James is smart enough to adjust to what he sees...

Smart enough... maybe not.
Good enough... absolutely.

What has Lebron done or said that would suggest he has above average intelligence?

Pickled Prunes wrote:

James is smart enough to adjust to what he sees...

Smart enough... maybe not.
Good enough... absolutely.

What has Lebron done or said that would suggest he has above average intelligence?

smart enough in terms of basketball I.Q... stop hating so hard

Imo this is just that san antonio spurs approach. For the cavs to make a run in the playoffs, lebron will have to shoulder a lot of the load. Why exert all that energy now? The cavs don't need homecourt advantage in the playoffs to beat raptors or hawks, cause those teams simply lack experience. Chasing homecourt advantage for the finals is pointless anyway.
Read more at http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... 246MTMd.99

How does raptors and hawks have no playoff advantage - also you assuming cavs will get 6-8 seed. Raptors and Hawks will probably finish in the top 4. Only people with legitimate playoff experience for the CAVS is LBJ. The Big 3 (LBJ, KYRIE, K-LOVE) only LBJ has been to the playoffs. (The role players who does have experience in the playoff doesn't count because obviously they are not first options on offense) Even if LBJ carries the load - his one on one game is exposed when he used to play for the CAVS prior to MIA trade. The way things are looking now - their only upside is the east doesn't have any powerhouses.

DEEP3CL wrote:K-Love is dealing with pain issues also, but he will be relied upon in James absence as well as Kyrie. Basketball works at it's best when it's just a two prong attack, trying to involve a 3rd as a main weapon has proven difficult unless one guy is willing to totally downgrade his game. I wouldn't say the Cavs are holding on for dear life, at worse they can play .500 ball and be OK in the east. Maybe the Cavs work out some of their kinks, James is smart enough to adjust to what he sees in those 2 weeks and will just blend his game in.

i think the cavs have been in a state of confusion about who that second prong is.

KrisKaman wrote:

Imo this is just that san antonio spurs approach. For the cavs to make a run in the playoffs, lebron will have to shoulder a lot of the load. Why exert all that energy now? The cavs don't need homecourt advantage in the playoffs to beat raptors or hawks, cause those teams simply lack experience. Chasing homecourt advantage for the finals is pointless anyway.
Read more at http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... 246MTMd.99

How does raptors and hawks have no playoff advantage - also you assuming cavs will get 6-8 seed. Raptors and Hawks will probably finish in the top 4. Only people with legitimate playoff experience for the CAVS is LBJ. The Big 3 (LBJ, KYRIE, K-LOVE) only LBJ has been to the playoffs. (The role players who does have experience in the playoff doesn't count because obviously they are not first options on offense) Even if LBJ carries the load - his one on one game is exposed when he used to play for the CAVS prior to MIA trade. The way things are looking now - their only upside is the east doesn't have any powerhouses.

Yea with bron missing games I expect the cavs to lose a lot end up as a 6-8 seed. They'll probably rest kyrie and love a bit too so the cavs will lose a ton of games. Well lebron got exposed in the 2007 finals, but apart from that he was pretty good with the cavs. His battles with pierce were epic and I also liked how he took good care of hawks/bulls etc.
And I agree overall the cavs aren't very experienced, but having guys like marion, miller, bron, who have championship pedigree and have had their share of shortcomings always helps.
I love how lowry is playing, but in a game7 situation I still see him going 1 on 5 in pressure situations until he proves me wrong

lambchop wrote:

KrisKaman wrote:

Imo this is just that san antonio spurs approach. For the cavs to make a run in the playoffs, lebron will have to shoulder a lot of the load. Why exert all that energy now? The cavs don't need homecourt advantage in the playoffs to beat raptors or hawks, cause those teams simply lack experience. Chasing homecourt advantage for the finals is pointless anyway.
Read more at http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... 246MTMd.99

How does raptors and hawks have no playoff advantage - also you assuming cavs will get 6-8 seed. Raptors and Hawks will probably finish in the top 4. Only people with legitimate playoff experience for the CAVS is LBJ. The Big 3 (LBJ, KYRIE, K-LOVE) only LBJ has been to the playoffs. (The role players who does have experience in the playoff doesn't count because obviously they are not first options on offense) Even if LBJ carries the load - his one on one game is exposed when he used to play for the CAVS prior to MIA trade. The way things are looking now - their only upside is the east doesn't have any powerhouses.

Yea with bron missing games I expect the cavs to lose a lot end up as a 6-8 seed. They'll probably rest kyrie and love a bit too so the cavs will lose a ton of games. Well lebron got exposed in the 2007 finals, but apart from that he was pretty good with the cavs. His battles with pierce were epic and I also liked how he took good care of hawks/bulls etc.
And I agree overall the cavs aren't very experienced, but having guys like marion, miller, bron, who have championship pedigree and have had their share of shortcomings always helps.
I love how lowry is playing, but in a game7 situation I still see him going 1 on 5 in pressure situations until he proves me wrong

lol LBJ finishing 6-8? In the east? good one

This is good strategy by the Cabs, Lebron probably asked for this personally, I don't think Being matched up against Washington, Atlanta, or my very own Raps scare the crap out of Lebron. The Cavs don't need Home court advantage, they have Lebron and the Refs, that's the only advantage you need in the playoffs, truth.

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may fall to the 8th or 7th seed without him

RaptorRed wrote:

Pickled Prunes wrote:

James is smart enough to adjust to what he sees...

Smart enough... maybe not.
Good enough... absolutely.

What has Lebron done or said that would suggest he has above average intelligence?

smart enough in terms of basketball I.Q... stop hating so hard

I don't hate Lebron. He is arguably the most physically gifted player on the court every night. And one of the most fun to watch. That said, he isn't doing it with his basketball I. Q.

Pickled Prunes wrote:

RaptorRed wrote:

Pickled Prunes wrote:
Smart enough... maybe not.
Good enough... absolutely.

What has Lebron done or said that would suggest he has above average intelligence?

smart enough in terms of basketball I.Q... stop hating so hard

I don't hate Lebron. He is arguably the most physically gifted player on the court every night. And one of the most fun to watch. That said, he isn't doing it with his basketball I. Q.

How about lebrons shot selection and especially his passing ability. Imo his passing is much more impressive, though less consistent, than his scoring ability. He's one of the few players, who almost always make the right decision from a basketball standpoint. Just look at what coaching greats like popovich say about lebrons decision making on the court.

lambchop wrote:

Pickled Prunes wrote:

RaptorRed wrote:
smart enough in terms of basketball I.Q... stop hating so hard

I don't hate Lebron. He is arguably the most physically gifted player on the court every night. And one of the most fun to watch. That said, he isn't doing it with his basketball I. Q.

How about lebrons shot selection and especially his passing ability. Imo his passing is much more impressive, though less consistent, than his scoring ability. He's one of the few players, who almost always make the right decision from a basketball standpoint. Just look at what coaching greats like popovich say about lebrons decision making on the court.

I disagree. How many defenders can guard Lebron 1 on 1? He has a huge size advantage over SF's and a quckness advantage over PF's. He could force a double team every time down the floor. He should post-up every time a SF tries to guard him and should be pulling PF's out to 20 ft. He is too passive and lets the defense dictate his offense instead of imposing his will.

And Pop only speaks when it serves his purpose. He knows that if Lebron started imposing his will the Spurs would be done. So he gives Lebron a pat on the back for his great passes from the perimeter hoping he will stay there. The Spurs didn't beat the Heat with muscle or athleticism... the did it with superior basketball I. Q.

lambchop wrote:Imo this is just that san antonio spurs approach. For the cavs to make a run in the playoffs, lebron will have to shoulder a lot of the load. Why exert all that energy now? The cavs don't need homecourt advantage in the playoffs to beat raptors or hawks, cause those teams simply lack experience. Chasing homecourt advantage for the finals is pointless anyway.

Spurs don't pout like he does.

Pickled Prunes wrote:

lambchop wrote:

Pickled Prunes wrote:I don't hate Lebron. He is arguably the most physically gifted player on the court every night. And one of the most fun to watch. That said, he isn't doing it with his basketball I. Q.

How about lebrons shot selection and especially his passing ability. Imo his passing is much more impressive, though less consistent, than his scoring ability. He's one of the few players, who almost always make the right decision from a basketball standpoint. Just look at what coaching greats like popovich say about lebrons decision making on the court.

I disagree. How many defenders can guard Lebron 1 on 1? He has a huge size advantage over SF's and a quckness advantage over PF's. He could force a double team every time down the floor. He should post-up every time a SF tries to guard him and should be pulling PF's out to 20 ft. He is too passive and lets the defense dictate his offense instead of imposing his will.

And Pop only speaks when it serves his purpose. He knows that if Lebron started imposing his will the Spurs would be done. So he gives Lebron a pat on the back for his great passes from the perimeter hoping he will stay there. The Spurs didn't beat the Heat with muscle or athleticism... the did it with superior basketball I. Q.

I agree with what you said. I just disagree when people say he lacks basketball IQ. In my opinion his basketball iq is good, however, it could be much much better, if he chose a style of play more catered towards his physical and scoring abilities. I think this cleveland team gives him the ability to be more like the lebron he was in the 2013 playoffs. He is surrounded by great shooting and I think that love and lebron can be used almost interchangably on the wing and in the low post, with different preferences of course.

My impression of lebron is that he sometimes lacks focus and the will to play a more physical style of game and just do what it takes to win as opposed to playing a finesse style and coming up short. He doesn't want to bang from the left side of the low post and use that turn around left handed bank shot, which works very well for him, instead he'd like to do it with pick n rolls and pullups.

I think he is one of the few players, who even after 4 mvps and at age 30 could make the game much easier for themselves with minor adjustments