Baseball and the Myth of Certainty
September 28, 2016On the Cleveland Indians and TV numbers: While We’re Waiting
September 29, 2016If you were watching NBA TV at any point on Wednesday morning, you were given some additional insight into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ practice as it was streamed live as a part of the league’s “Real Training Camp” series. Kristen Ledlow and Steve Smith were live in Independence as the team continued on with the second day of their 2016-17 season, chatting with members of the team’s front office and media-based employees, analyzing what is in store for a team looking to defend their first ever NBA championship.
Items of note from Day 2 of Cavs Training Camp:
- David Griffin spoke at length about some advanced metrics surrounding Mike Dunleavy Jr. and his ability to hit open shots. The team has data that shows Dunleavy being among the best in the NBA in hitting shots when there is not a defender within a certain distance, making his value to this Cavaliers team that much greater as the opposition will be unable to consistently double-team other weapons on the offensive end. “His size on the wing, his basketball IQ, his shooting ability… In our offense, an awful lot of the shots our jump shooters get are uncontested,” said Griffin. “Mike being efficient in that role and being smart enough to make the next pass, we feel comfortable that the ball will move.”
- “Complacency” was a bit of a narrative throughout the morning, the team admittedly falling victim to it throughout a portion of last season. LeBron James, on Tuesday, spoke about how this current team has been through the ringer, experiencing extreme highs and lows. Griffin added that the addition of players like Dunleavy and Chris Andersen should allow for the team to remain on point through a regular season that may not exactly provide the most in the way of challenges.
- LeBron discussed his offseason work-out regimen, noting that year-round training has simply become a lifestyle for him and his family, something he plans on doing well after his playing days have come to an end. Changing things up a bit from last season, however, James did two-a-days in September as opposed to the three sessions he did per day a year earlier.
LeBron working on the long ball. pic.twitter.com/KtYyQXt7vr
— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) September 28, 2016
- Head coach Tyronn Lue spoke about the team’s training staff having a “red zone” that will be utilized throughout the season to monitor the minutes of players. With the goal of health being paramount, the team will work diligently to ensure that a LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have their minutes managed in a strategic manner. “For me, in the playoffs healthy is more important than anything,” said Lue. “We’re playing for something big… We have to take care of our bodies and take care of our key guys. As long as we get to the playoffs healthy, I’ll be very excited about that.”
- Two seasons ago, James took a two-week break. Last season, he played in 76 games, averaging the lowest minutes per game of his career (35.6). His desire to play all 82 games last season was mentioned, to which the player said he could have suited up for all 82 if needed, but also admitted that he’s very stubborn in wanting to play and relies on the coaching staff to tell him when it is best to take a break. It appears that the entire coaching staff with work with both James and Irving to select games to take off throughout the season, not just limiting said absences to the end of the year once the playoff picture becomes clearer.
Lue continues about Kyrie's minutes. pic.twitter.com/mGqK9ag1Xq
— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) September 28, 2016
- “We have to make sure we keep his minutes down,” Lue said about Irving. “The way he plays, the style of basketball in getting to basket, stops, starts—we have to make sure we control his minutes, LeBron’s minutes, and Kevin’s when needed.”
With veterans Richard Jefferson and Dunleavy playing behind LeBron, the team will have little issue giving the four-time MVP the evening off. In the event Kevin Love takes a night, it would be expected that Channing Frye would step up and fill in for the vacated minutes at the power forward spot. Irving’s situation is a bit more complicated as the team continues to work on an alternative at the back-up point guard spot.
When asked by WFNY as to whether or not he’ll be playing more point this season, James said “I’m going to play everything. It’s my job description. It says ‘LeBron James: Do Everything, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.’ It hasn’t changed.”
2 Comments
I’m going to play everything
Last year, that would have been instantly captured into a Daily Fantasy commercial
Would be super helpful if he’d be eligible across the board in fantasy…