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January 26, 2016When Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue took over for David Blatt last Friday, one of the first things the new head coach mentioned was the fact that he wanted the Cavs to play at a faster pace than they did under Blatt.
Following their loss in Lue’s first game at the helm against Chicago Saturday night, the head coach said that the Cavaliers are not in good enough shape to play faster. Multiple players were said to have requested early rest, which messed up Lue’s rotation in the first quarter of the Bulls game. Lue didn’t say that they were out of shape per se, but just that they weren’t in good enough shape for the way he wants to run.
Cavaliers star LeBron James took it into his own hands to set an example for the rest of the team. On Monday, prior to Cleveland hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 31-year-old said that he can get in good enough shape by next week, per cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
“I don’t think I’m in bad shape at all, just need to get in better shape for what we want to do,” James said following Monday’s shootaround. “I’m not that far off. I can get there in less than a week.”
James took to Instagram, posting a workout picture from 7 a.m. to prove that he is on his way to getting in better shape.
For what it’s worth, James told reporters that the early morning workout was “pretty routine” on game days, but there’s presumably a reason he posted the picture: to send a message that he is determined to get in better shape so that his new head coach’s demands come to fruition.
How slow is the Cavs pace so far this season, you might ask? Their 95.03 possessions per game is third-lowest in the NBA. Comparatively, the Golden State Warriors have the second-fastest pace (101.75 possessions per game) in the league.
“It’s not even about getting more points,” James said. “It’s not about being out of control. It’s just about getting the ball up the floor faster than usual, giving ourselves more time to execute the offense. We’re now going to be a little bit more deliberate and conscious of our offensive sets and we need more time.”
While it may take a couple weeks for most of the team to get in better shape, at least James is being a leader and showing his teammates what it takes.
12 Comments
They’re really going to double down on this “not in shape” nonsense?
They’re really using that as an excuse?
I don’t see any of his teammates behind him. Shocking. But to answer your question: YES. I stopped counting how many times I heard the Cavs broadcast team discuss it. Clearly they received the talking points.
It’s not “in shape” per say it’s more about “pace” supposedly. I’m with you all I hear is an excuse for a way to try and differentiate between the Blatt way and the Lue way. It’s why they, LBJ and Griffin, prefaced it by saying it would probably take a few weeks for the change to show. Griffin went as far as to say on ESPN Cleveland that things will most likely get worse before they get better. Think about that for a minute. This provides Lue with some cover until ya know, the same people don’t like him and they create another storyline.
Ok pace does make more sense.
Honestly, they start to move the ball more on offense to create shots and scoring opportunities, it will directly translate on the defensive end. NO MORE ISO, unless maybe saving for the last shot.
Pace as in more movement on offense as opposed to running and gunning. Too many people standing around on O or jogging.
So if the cavs lose in/before the finals after all this does Gilbert just hire Calipari for that 10 year 120m contract? I think half a season should show us if Lue can coach as well the cavs have built him up.
This doesn’t make sense. Lebron is going to fatigue and playing the Warriors style is a trap. No matter how well the Cavs play the rest of the year it won’t matter because they can’t beat the the elites. The Cavs are in a bad spot and can only prove themselves winning the Finals which of course everyone wants.
This just in, LBJ says that if Lue had been coach all year, they would be on pace for like a million wins, instead of a paltry 60…
JR is his workout partner and is with him each morning at 7am.
If you say so.