I don't mean avoid flopping. I assume he can do that. Maybe.
At least practices what he preaches. He has failed four times in the NBA Finals.
I am referring to the fact that even though LeBron, the star player, GM, and coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was convinced he'd be better off without Kyrie Irving, he isn't.
The specific problem is that LeBron thought it would be no big deal for he and the Cavaliers to play 5 on 4 on defense. If I am not mistaken, LeBron James loves professional wrestling. I'm pretty sure his initial pep rally for nothing when he originally cut out the hearts of Cavs fans and "took his talents to South Beach" was based on some Wrestlemania event.
I think this love of wrestling colored his view of what it would be like to play one man down on defense for at least 30 minutes per game.
Perhaps he was thinking of how easy it was for Andre the Giant to excel in handicap matches back in the day.
But Lebron and the rest of the Cavs are finding out rather quickly that it is much tougher to succeed in the NBA when you only have 4 guys playing defense.
As if a team including Kevin Love, Dwayne Wade and Derrick Rose (I think he's still on the team) didn't have enough problems on defense, on January 2, the Cavs "added" Isaiah Thomas to the mix. I use quotes around "added' because he really is only an addition on the offensive end. I think he actually goes and sits down to rest when the Cavs are on "defense".
Since Thomas' return on January 2nd, he has guarded as many guys as he had in Cleveland's previous 38 games. That number is of course zero. While he was injured, he guarded zero. Since his return, he has guarded even fewer.*
If you don't want to take my word for it, how about some statistics.
Here are some interesting numbers from the four games Thomas has played offense in:
Minutes Played 19
Opponent's score 110
Minutes Played 21
Opponent's score 131
Minutes Played 19
Opponent's score 127
Minutes Played 25
Opponent's score 133
If Thomas ever plays 40 minutes the Cavs' opponent will easily score 200 points.
LeBron is the most athletically gifted NBA player I have ever seen. Unfortunately, he sucks as a GM. Luckily for the Cavs and their fans, the true jewel of the Kyrie Irving deal is the New Jersey Nets' draft pick. The Cavs will be able to cash that in after LeBron ruthlessly cuts out the hearts of his home town fans once again the summer.
Hopefully they draft an octopus so that when they play defense, it can use it's extra two arms and two legs to guard Isaiah Thomas' guy.
*I believe there were a few times he actually set screens for opposing players so they could score more easily.