Lebron James hinted at a recent post-game press conference that maybe it was time to shave some of his and starters Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love's playing time.
James is averaging 39.1 minutes per game, according to an ESPN article from their website. His 39.1 minutes ranks him only behind Oklahoma City's Reggie Jackson,(40.1) and Chicago's Jimmy Butler,(40.3.) Both Jackson and Butler are much younger players with significantly less mileage on their legs than James does. They are also both in situations where their respective teams are battling injuries to key players, that have forced them to stay on the floor longer than their coaches would like to see.
The Cavaliers' situation is different than of those two teams aforementioned battling injuries. Their roster have barely come together, and first-year coach David Blatt knows that he needs to give the new players time to mesh well together. Blatt is also taking advantage of it being so early in the season, and once their roster has showed that they're gelling well he will have plenty of time to rest his players up for the postseason.
"For me, I don't want to do that all year," James told ESPN.com reporter Dave McMenamin."Obviously right now it's difficult because we're trying to find a groove, we're trying to find a rhythm and we're trying to implement something that you don't want to shortcut it, but at the same time you're tying to be smart at it.
"So, I don't mind giving a few of my minutes up, just to help the team, to help my minutes go down. I think it would be for the best."
James seems to be a little conflicted in wanting to give up some time, first being, he said we need to stay on the floor because of the need to coalesce, but he also stated that he wouldn't mind giving up some time.
He doesn't need to please anybody, especially the media or fans. James should just do what is best for the team and himself, whether that is playing a lot of minutes in an effort to get better together, or deduct minutes, and rest up for the remainder of the season.Or they can do both, which James seems comfortable with, taking a subjective approach to things rather than a black and white perspective.
"For me, its however the game is going because I've kind of played the whole third quarter sometimes and it's been a long stretch," James said to McMenamin. "So that allows me to get the first couple of minutes (of the fourth quarter) off.
"And like a few games ago I asked to come out early in the third. I got tired, then I can come back and start the fourth. So it all depends. But seeing how the first half goes and watching my minutes throughout that course and being able to gauge it from there helps."
According to NBA.com Kevin Love played at least 39 minutes 11 times last year. In those 11 games, he averaged; 29.2 ppg., and 11.7 rpg. Irving played in 19 games last year in where he exceeded the 38-minute mark. His performance garnered him 27.8 ppg. and James played a whopping 26 times in which his minutes exceeded 38. In those games he averaged; 30.6 ppg. and 7 rpg.
These players have all proved they can contribute significantly in big minutes,but it's up to coach Blatt and the rest of the players to communicate to each other how they feel and to be honest.
They'll figure things out. Just like the Lakers will. They're professionals, give them time to do what they do. Rome wasn't built in a day, you know.
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