Adjustment
After having assembled a roster that’s long on both talent and experience, the Cavaliers are supposed to be easing James’ load, not adding to it. True, injuries to Isaiah Thomas and Derrick Rose haven’t helped; it’s why he found himself starting and finis
First, the good news for Cavaliers fans: LeBron James is in midseason form this early in the 2017-2018 campaign. Yesterday, he came up with 34 markers and 12 dimes, his 13-of-20 shooting from the field remarkably upping his accuracy from an already heady 60% through his first three games. And considering how an ankle injury kept him out of the final week of the preseason, he figures to be even better over time.
To be sure, James operating at a high level is nothing new to longtime hoops habitues. That said, the fact that he has hit the ground running, as opposed to his predilection in recent memory to pace himself until the playoffs arrive, speaks volumes of his commitment to make his mark from the get-go. No doubt, his immediate-past-season failure to crack the Top Three in Most Valuable Player votes for the first time since 2008 served as motivation.
Now, the bad news: After having assembled a roster that’s long on both talent and experience, the Cavaliers are supposed to be easing James’ load, not adding to it. True, injuries to Isaiah Thomas and Derrick Rose haven’t helped; it’s why he found himself starting and finishing yesterday’s set-to at the one spot, a responsibility he last formally held in 2012. And true, it isn’t easy having to assimilate a bunch of marquee names and asking them to sacrifice minutes for the sake of the collective. On the other hand, there can be no excusing their inconsistent effort over their last two outings; for all their travails, they shouldn’t have had to toil against the lowly Magic and Bulls.
For James, though, his exertions while the Cavaliers sort through adjustment issues are part and parcel of his intent to meet the ultimate objective. As much as his sterling play has masked the fundamental deficiencies of the wine and gold, he firmly believes that the product on the court will improve, and hopefully enough to make an impact when the games really matter. After all, the most important victory he wants to claim is the last.