Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18
By Drew Zlogar
5. Monitoring LeBron
LeBron James has defied what is a usual NBA player’s narrative, having never been severely injured since being a pro. However, Father Time remains undefeated, and as James is set to begin his 15th season, it will be interesting to see how heavily he is used on a nightly basis.
James was the league leader in minutes per game last season (37.8), and in the first season without Kyrie Irving or newly acquired but injured Isaiah Thomas to lead them at point guard, he will likely be the main ball-handler on a nightly basis.
James has shown that his body is the most durable, and consistently healthy of all superstars in any sports history, let alone the NBA, but as he gets older, and continues to close in on the end of his career, you have to wonder if this is the year that an injury sidelines the King.
The league revised the 82-game schedule to cut down on extended road trips, and the amount of back-to-backs that teams have to endure, which is a positive for the Cavaliers in trying to control their star’s health.
LeBron James showed us this past year that it didn’t affect him too much in being the league leader in minutes played per game, but it will be wise of the Cavaliers to make sure that they are monitoring just how much he plays, because time catches up to every player — even LeBron.