LeBron James Calls For Less Minutes, But Should Blatt Oblige?

LeBron James says the Cavaliers’ Big Three is logging too many minutes and that it needs to change, but does it really?

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The last time LeBron James averaged over 39 minutes per game, he was 23-years-old. And it was 2007.

And if something doesn’t change in Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt’s rotation this season, he’ll break that mark for the first time in seven years, at the age of 30.

It’s an obvious area of concern, especially considering that LeBron James is trying to reach his fifth straight NBA Finals. Making four straight doesn’t come without its battle scars. And on such a physical specimen that often is immune to injuries, like LeBron, that comes in the way of fatigue.

And he knows that if he has any chance of reaching another NBA Finals this season, his minutes are going to have to taper off now. That’s exactly what he’s calling for.

"[via LeBron James: My minutes have ‘to come down’ — Cleveland.com]“That has to come down,” James said Tuesday, referring to the playing time for Cleveland’s Big 3.“For me, I don’t want to do that all year,” James said. “Obviously right now it’s difficult because we’re trying to find a groove and we’re trying to find a rhythm and we’re trying to find something that you can’t really, you don’t want to shortcut it but at the same time you gotta be smart about it.”"

While LeBron James made a more general remark regarding the minutes of the “Big Three,” it has to be more about his minutes than his peers. After all, he’s not the one that’s out there trotting on 22 and 24 year old legs, respectively.

Question now is: will David Blatt oblige with LeBron’s request — if that’s what we’re even calling it?

There’s no easy answer to this.

Obviously, the hope would be: yes.

Although, there are two things that need to be highlighted here. One, Blatt’s sole objective right now (in the regular season) is getting his players into some sort of a cohesive state. And, two, he doesn’t have time to waste in this league. Not in the NBA. Certainly not with this Cavaliers club.

Those are two very important aspects of this whole “running LeBron into the ground” narrative. It’s false.

Is LeBron logging too many minutes so far this season? Sure.

Is it also necessary? Yes. Right now.

"“So this is not the time to be thinking about resting him,” Blatt said then. “He’s feeling good, this is the time to allow him to feel comfortable and get into his rhythm.”"

The last thing on Blatt’s mind is resting his stars. And that’s exactly where it should be.

The Cavaliers need to find their comfort zone on the basketball court. Right now, they simply aren’t playing championship level basketball.

And if extended minutes is what it takes to get them to that level, that’s what needs to happen. Regardless of what LeBron James says.

Next: Brandon Jennings has the Milwaukee Bucks playing formidable basketball

LeBron James says the Cavaliers’ Big Three is logging too many minutes and that it needs to change, but does it really?

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