LeBron James to miss 2 weeks

ESPN.com news services

Updated: January 1, 2015, 3:52 PM ET

 

The struggling Cleveland Cavaliers won't be able to lean on LeBron James in the near future.  James is expected to miss two weeks after tests revealed injuries to the superstar's left knee and lower back.  The Cavaliers announced in a release Thursday that multiple examinations, including an MRI, showed that James has knee and back strains.  The tests were performed Wednesday before the Cavs lost their third straight game, a 96-80 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

 

James, who has missed Cleveland's past two games, will undergo several forms of treatment, including anti-inflammatories, the team said.  The four-time MVP has never missed more than five straight games in his professional career; if the two-week timetable holds up, his absence could reach 10 games or more.

 

The Cavs play in Charlotte on Friday, host Dallas on Sunday, visit Philadelphia on Monday, are back home to meet Houston on Wednesday -- then head out for a five-game road trip against Western Conference clubs.  James aggravated his nagging knee injury on Christmas Day in Miami while jumping over a row of courtside seats.  He acknowledged that the knee has been "hurting pretty much all year" on Wednesday, one day after his 30th birthday.

 

MORE: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12107680/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-expected-miss-2-weeks

 

In a very real away and assuming he recovers fully, this is a positive.  Because of the NBA's large playoff structure, they'll still make it in if there was ever any hope of winning it all.

Im still not worried at all about this team, and i dont think anyone else should as well.  I want to tell all the cavs fans that are freaking out to take a big step back and look at the big picture.  Lebrons last two years here, they won over 60 games and looked great all season, but it wasnt sustainable.  Lebron goes to Miami and realizes that the only games that really matter begin in April.  ANd he knows you have to win on the road anyway, so the home court thing isnt as big for him anymore.  It can get slightly annoying when he is trying to teach and shows bad body language (not what you want to see out of your self proclaimed "old head"), but honestly i dont think i will be worried unti lthe cavs are in a playoff series with 3 losses against them.  I think Lebron can go to whole new levels at will.  Plus, he seems to like to go against the grain of the media and what fans think....getting in as a 5 or 6 seed and going to the finals sounds like something he would enjoy after all the experts pick against the cavs

 

The one worry i DO Have is getting Kevin Love back up to all-star level.  They need to figure out where he best fits the team i think in order to win a title.

I think both LeBron and Love have back issues this year.  Nothing major, but it has affected their games a bit.  For LeBron, I wonder if it had anything to do with those summertime weigh fluctuations.

I'm glad he's shutting it down for a couple weeks. As someone with a bad back, I can see him struggling with it. LeBron has not been his usual self, and apparently Kevin Love hasn't either but I didn't watch enough of him in Minnesota to know whether its due to injury or to him sacrificing some of his usual domination on a more talented team.

 

While I'd hoped this team would compete for a championship this year, I've always felt that the Cavs would more likely be a serious championship contender next year due to chemistry issues, Blatt learning his way around the NBA, adding another defensive stopper, etc.

Going to be pissed if we trade Dion. Dion, Armundson and Kirk pulled from lineup tonite. Rumors are a trade to OKC involving multiple Thunder players, probably Kendrick Perkins. Knick's may also be involved. Love Dion...

 

Edit:Trade happening right now. JR Smith coming to Cavs maybe along with Iman Shumpert...go to HoopsHype.com

Late last year I decided to stop caring about any player that has "Is he going to leave" FA hysteria surrounding them, so that put Dion pretty high on my list of Cavs favorites. He was a lot of fun in maybe not the most productive way. Kinda like Delonte, and I loved him too.

If it's smith and shumpert, I'm okay with it. Otherwise I'm not. Dion is a cancer in the locker room, but is a good ball player.

I won't miss Waiters at all. He's one of those "teaser" ball players that one game scores 23 and plays great D and then shoots 32% the next four games because the cleaning lady didn't pick up his dry cleaning.

Dion trade???

 

Wouldn't the GM consult LeBron on this? I thought everyone was happy.

I like Dion.  We're losing a talented, young ballplayer.  He was maturing a lot under LeBron's wing... That said, Shumpert and Smith are nice players... Smith's somewhat of a knucklehead, but can play.

Dion has game and I'm upset we are trading him but we had to make a move. This wasn't gelling the way it needed to and the defense has been poor. Shumpert immediately makes our defense better. We get a deeper bench with smith. Never been a smith fan, hope he learns this needs to be team ball

Amico reports another big in play outside of this deal. We could desperately use another big

The post-Lebron Cavs make me feel icky. Dion was my favorite player.

Amico reports another big in play outside of this deal. We could desperately use another big

 

That's what I'm really hoping for.

In other news, the Cavs just lost to the 76ers. It doesn't get any lower than that -- or at least it better not.

Dion has game and I'm upset we are trading him but we had to make a move. This wasn't gelling the way it needed to and the defense has been poor. Shumpert immediately makes our defense better. We get a deeper bench with smith. Never been a smith fan, hope he learns this needs to be team ball

 

I disagree.  We didn't have coaching to make it work.  David Blatt just had Matt Dellevadova shoot the final shot in a loss to the worst team in basketball.  We need a friggin' head coach, not to get rid of a talented player.

 

While Delly taking the final shot was curious, the Cavs had a 17-point fourth-period lead and blew it. That's on everyone.

FFFFF***************CCCCCCCKKKKKKK....god that was painful.

 

Can we get Wiggins and Bennent back? Love is soooo soft.It's one thing to be eclipsed by Kyrie and LeBron but when you are supposedly the best player on the floor. I.Want. To. See.More....

But we're not playing defense and haven't been all season.  We've been blowing big leads in this 34-game season. Blatt's lack of NBA experience is clearly showing itself.  The team is not buying what the Blatt is selling, it's not just LeBron.

FFFFF***************CCCCCCCKKKKKKK....god that was painful.

 

Can we get Wiggins and Bennent back? Love is soooo soft.It's one thing to be eclipsed by Kyrie and LeBron but when you are supposedly the best player on the floor. I.Want. To. See.More....

Yeah, I can't say I've been all that impressed with Love.

 

He puts up good numbers, but he doesn't seem to come through when we need him to.  Also, he's not as athletic as I expected him to be.  I guess I hadn't watched him enough when he was in Minnesota.

Yeah, his game seems to be predicated most on being big and in the way to draw the foul to pad the numbers.

 

I don't get D in the NBA. You're are professional athletes, why not try on both ends of the court? They have cut down on the wide open looks from earlier in the season but it looks like a lack of effort right now, being a half a step behind...

From @probballdraft:

For those keeping track Cleveland owns Memphis & OKC 1st rounders, $5.2M TPE, $4.9M DPE, & Haywood's contract. Cavs have means to get a big.

 

And...

 

One source I spoke with said Cavs frustration with Waiters was he was a pure stat guy who focused on his numbers over whats best for team.

I'm with bumsquare, this team reminds me of the Karl Malone/ Gary Payton Lakers. I want the young team with potential back, not this rag tag bunch of mercenaries that can't play together. This isn't any fun.

what the? so the cavs became the knicks west? so weird. jr is streaky, a ball hog and can be disruptive. he is by far the most talked about guy by knicks fans and they will be happy he is gone and happy to have their cap space cleared since they suck anyway. yeah jr, i dk about that guy. maybe he and bron can hang out at the tatoo parlor.  otoh shumpert i really like. solid on both ends and consistent. he's young and he always tries to bring it too. so he'll help. i will miss dion, he'll grow and be a big asset for okc over time.

 

the cavs were definately forced to do something so this is it. i dk what they are going to do about getting another big man though, which they still need. do they have another move in mind? i dk. we'll have to see how this plays out and if they all can gel. it will be very interesting when lebron returns from his vacation, err injury.

 

I'm with bumsquare, this team reminds me of the Karl Malone/ Gary Payton Lakers. I want the young team with potential back, not this rag tag bunch of mercenaries that can't play together. This isn't any fun.

 

I watched more Cavs the past four years than any other time. Watching the young bucks develop really made it feel like they were "our guys". It was enjoyable! Then Lebron came back and showed me that franchises are nothing but a collection of jerseys and jock straps. I guess it's just part of the process of getting older and slowly being disillusioned about everything you hold dear. Happy New Year!

^^ Hmmm, i feel differently about the young guys.  I enoyed Dion but winning 25 games is a year is no fun.  Shumpert is the key here.  Hes not that old.  If we can get the Denver big, we will be significantly improved defensively.  I wish the best for Dion.

The main target was Shumpert but the Knicks wanted to unload J.R Smith in order for the Cavs to get him, which is why he's here.

I'm with bumsquare, this team reminds me of the Karl Malone/ Gary Payton Lakers. I want the young team with potential back, not this rag tag bunch of mercenaries that can't play together. This isn't any fun.

 

Old? The starting line-up:

 

Kyrie Irving -- 22 years old (to be 23 in March)

Tristan Thompson -- 23 (to be 24 in March)

LeBron James -- 30

Kevin Love -- 26

Iman Shumpert -- 24

 

So LeBron, at age 30, is the old man in this starting lineup. And even if the Cavs can get Timofey Mozgov, age 28, LeBron will still be the senior citizen.

 

I'm somewhat apathetic about the trade.  I liked Dion a lot, but he let me down a lot.... especially this season when I thought he was getting ready to turn a corner.  He showed those flashes everyone loved him for, but then would resort to his bad habits.  He never improved on his ability to finish at the rim.  For someone who gets to the rim at will, that never made sense to me how bad he was at finishing.  His relationship with the refs continued to devolve.  While the rumors of him and Kyrie not getting along were waaaay overblown, Dion did indeed think he was better than Kyrie and thought the Cavs favored Kyrie over him.  That's confidence but crazy too.  Kyrie is clearly the superior player.  You won't find a reputable talent evaluator who would disagree.  I don't think things are going to be much better for him in OKC.  If he didn't think he touched the ball enough here, wait until he gets a load of playing on a team with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Reggie Jackson.

 

I suspect the Cavs really wanted Shumpert and he should get plugged into the starting lineup at the 2 from day 1.  I agree that Smith was probably someone the Knicks wanted to unload, but he can give us whatever Dion was giving us.  All three players have shockingly similar stats for this season.  The only difference being Smith has reached his ceiling, while Dion and Iman might still have a bit to climb.  Not sure Dion will ever be as good as Smith when Smith's mind is in the right place.  A motivated JR Smith is one of the more dynamic scorers in the league.  He was 6th man of the year the season before last.  Being back on the a winning team should help.

 

The real key here, however, might've been that first round pick.  That might be the additional asset some team with a spare big man has been asking for....

Shumpert is a keeper, no doubt, and the obvious target.  Strong player at both ends, with size, mobility, intelligence and a great attitude.  His only downside (like Kyrie's) is his injury history... Obviously, the wild card is Smith.  He comes with huge baggage, not to mention his giant contract (for which he'll exercise his player-option next season).  If folks thought Waiters was a knucklehead (me not being one of them), Dion is a tiny piker compared to Smith... Of course, everybody's hoping because of long-standing relationship with LeBron since HS, he will calm down and play to his immense potential.  We can only pray...

 

This is going to be baptism by fire and probably the worst possible time for a player shakeup.  We're obviously playing our worst basketball now and will likely be below .500 when LeBron returns (and we're not  certain when that will be; I'm hearing the 2-week projection may be optimistic -- I say, let him have as much time as he needs)... We're heading into our toughest stretch, including a West Coast swing after hosting the elite Rockets tomorrow with no LeBron as the team is a total mess.  Consider that Kevin Love STILL can't get the ball late in games, even yesterday against the lowly Sixers with future HOF members handling the ball, like Dellavedova, Price and Thompson (no offense to Tristan who probably won't go into the HOF, but is a significant cut above the aforementioned guys).    David Blatt's a very smart guy, obviously, but either he's in over his head or the guys aren't listening to what he's saying... either way, it always falls on the coach... Haven't Cavs' fans been hearing this seemingly forever? 

I'm with bumsquare, this team reminds me of the Karl Malone/ Gary Payton Lakers. I want the young team with potential back, not this rag tag bunch of mercenaries that can't play together. This isn't any fun.

 

Old? The starting line-up:

 

Kyrie Irving -- 22 years old (to be 23 in March)

Tristan Thompson -- 23 (to be 24 in March)

LeBron James -- 30

Kevin Love -- 26

Iman Shumpert -- 24

 

So LeBron, at age 30, is the old man in this starting lineup. And even if the Cavs can get Timofey Mozgov, age 28, LeBron will still be the senior citizen.

 

 

I was referring more to fact that we put together a bunch of hired guns that have zero chemistry, rather than their age, but I see what you're saying

 

I don't know. I can't muster any enthusiasm about this team. Maybe I'll jump on the bandwagon when they get in the playoffs.

I'm with bumsquare, this team reminds me of the Karl Malone/ Gary Payton Lakers. I want the young team with potential back, not this rag tag bunch of mercenaries that can't play together. This isn't any fun.

 

Old? The starting line-up:

 

Kyrie Irving -- 22 years old (to be 23 in March)

Tristan Thompson -- 23 (to be 24 in March)

LeBron James -- 30

Kevin Love -- 26

Iman Shumpert -- 24

 

So LeBron, at age 30, is the old man in this starting lineup. And even if the Cavs can get Timofey Mozgov, age 28, LeBron will still be the senior citizen.

 

 

I was referring more to fact that we put together a bunch of hired guns that have zero chemistry, rather than their age, but I see what you're saying

 

I don't know. I can't muster any enthusiasm about this team. Maybe I'll jump on the bandwagon when they get in the playoffs.

 

I'm sure ill bandwagon at some point too, but it won't feel right. Rag-tag mercenaries sums it up pretty well. Of course, taking it to its logical conclusion, I guess professional sports is all mercenary.

We have good guys on this team.  Rag-tag mercenaries is a bit harsh.  They haven't fully clicked yet, for sure.  But to even think that you'd rather have the 'rag-tag' bunch of the past few years is crazy.  The trades we made mid-season the past two years made out team better.  I suspect that we will at least see a little bump up from this deal and whatever else is coming.

 

Amico was comical last night.  That guy gets so flustered in the moment and then ends up looking stupid.  He tried to 'get ahead' of the reports by saying his "sources" say a big man is involved and coming to the Cavs.  Then, when the beat reporters he poaches info from confirmed the pieces to the trade, he backtracked saying his "sources" say a big man is coming in a separate move.  Hell..... I could've reported that. 

David Blatt's a very smart guy, obviously, but either he's in over his head or the guys aren't listening to what he's saying... either way, it always falls on the coach... Haven't Cavs' fans been hearing this seemingly forever? 

 

His handling of players and schemes in the fourth quarter last night was mind-boggling. Either plays weren't set up for Kevin Love or Delly was playing keep away so he could take the shot (and miss it). Either way, it's up to Blatt to set  these guys straight. And the Cavs were leading by 17. They needed stops down the stretch and yet Philly scored 35 on us in the 4th. WHY was Shawn Marion riding the bench?? I'd also throw Haywood in there. We wouldn't need him to score, just get stops. And we didn't get stops.

David Blatt's a very smart guy, obviously, but either he's in over his head or the guys aren't listening to what he's saying... either way, it always falls on the coach... Haven't Cavs' fans been hearing this seemingly forever? 

 

His handling of players and schemes in the fourth quarter last night was mind-boggling. Either plays weren't set up for Kevin Love or Delly was playing keep away so he could take the shot (and miss it). Either way, it's up to Blatt to set  these guys straight. And the Cavs were leading by 17. They needed stops down the stretch and yet Philly scored 35 on us in the 4th. WHY was Shawn Marion riding the bench?? I'd also throw Haywood in there. We wouldn't need him to score, just get stops. And we didn't get stops.

 

I had to re-check the score when I saw the breakdown of the points by quarters and saw the Cavs heavily outscored Philly in the second quarter.  I thought maybe I read it wrong, and not because Philly is so bad, but realizing just how bad of a 4th the Cavs had.

 

I am not hitting the panic button yet, but I am far from impressed with Blatt; I had high expectations of him in the beginning and liked the way he presented himself to the media. This is not Israel anymore, and obviously a different league.  It is easy to put the blame on the coach when things go wrong, but a lot of the blame on him in present is warranted.  This team is not only playing mediocre, but they are not "gelling" together.  It's early, I know this.  But I wasn't expecting these outcomes.  The Philadelphia and Detroit games were big wake up calls.

I watched more Cavs the past four years than any other time. Watching the young bucks develop really made it feel like they were "our guys".

 

You have a high tolerance for pain. This was a perpetual lottery team!

We held Philly to 37 points in the first HALF... They scored 35 points in the 4th QUARTER.

I watched more Cavs the past four years than any other time. Watching the young bucks develop really made it feel like they were "our guys".

 

You have a high tolerance for pain. This was a perpetual lottery team!

Definitely a bad team, but I found them entertaining and enjoyed the (ostensible) team building/drafting process. One could argue that it's also (though perhaps not equally) painful watching a team consisting of a past-his-prime and injured superduperstar, a perpetually injured star point-guard, and a top-ten (though really top-25, maybe) PF for whom we sold the farm struggle to a .500 record half way through the season.

^It's not stressful at all to watch and hardly disappointing if they lose when they (EDIT aren't) expected to win.  I think that what made the past few year's teams bearable to watch.  This year's team was supposed to storm right out of the gate, which makes their struggles frustrating.

^It's not stressful at all to watch and hardly disappointing if they lose when they are expected to win.  I think that what made the past few year's teams bearable to watch.  This year's team was supposed to storm right out of the gate, which makes their struggles frustrating.

 

I don't think anyone with experience in any team sport, let alone basketball, expected that.

 

IMO, as long as they stay around .500 - .600 going into the last month or so of the season and play well then, they have an even better chance of taking it as if they went 100% all year.

^It's not stressful at all to watch and hardly disappointing if they lose when they (EDIT aren't) expected to win. 

 

You've all maybe been ruined by Cleveland Browns football.

 

Do you guys remember "our" guys that played so crappy and uninspired they got their coaches fired? Or watching Kyrie progress....into a ball hog? Watching Winston Bennett sit his fat butt on the bench? Or was it the excitement of some kind of WWE battle between Thompson, Dion and Kyrie that was so great?

 

I'm just as disappointed in this season as anyone. Thank goodness I didn't invest in the NBA cable package. But man, Ricky Davis would even say those Kyrie-led Cavs teams sucked.

 

 

 

I'm just as disappointed in this season as anyone. Thank goodness I didn't invest in the NBA cable package. But man, Ricky Davis would even say those Kyrie-led Cavs teams sucked.

 

Are Cavs' tickets still highly priced this season?  I don't live in Cleveland, but have friends from out of state who want to go to Cavaliers games.  Seeing how they play now there is no way I would pay the money I was hearing earlier this season for them.

^They are highly priced on the secondary market.  Supply and demand.

^It's not stressful at all to watch and hardly disappointing if they lose when they (EDIT aren't) expected to win. 

 

You've all maybe been ruined by Cleveland Browns football.

 

Do you guys remember "our" guys that played so crappy and uninspired they got their coaches fired? Or watching Kyrie progress....into a ball hog? Watching Winston Bennett sit his fat butt on the bench? Or was it the excitement of some kind of WWE battle between Thompson, Dion and Kyrie that was so great?

 

I'm just as disappointed in this season as anyone. Thank goodness I didn't invest in the NBA cable package. But man, Ricky Davis would even say those Kyrie-led Cavs teams sucked.

 

I wish this was the Winston Bennett Cavs! Point taken, but I enjoyed watching the team take the first faltering steps in their rebuild. I guess I just find the drafting/developing part of basketball interesting. For all of his faults in talent evaluation, Grant did a good job of acquiring assets and making trades. Kyrie has always been fun to watch (in my opinion), including one of the greatest rookie seasons in NBA history. I was super stoked when we had a shot at Wiggins, and like I said, Dion was my favorite player. This present group is more of a let down, on average, in my opinion.

 

I wish this was the Winston Bennett Cavs! Point taken, but I enjoyed watching the team take the first faltering steps in their rebuild. I guess I just find the drafting/developing part of basketball interesting. For all of his faults in talent evaluation, Grant did a good job of acquiring assets and making trades. Kyrie has always been fun to watch (in my opinion), including one of the greatest rookie seasons in NBA history. I was super stoked when we had a shot at Wiggins, and like I said, Dion was my favorite player. This present group is more of a let down, on average, in my opinion.

 

Yeah, no matter how ya paint it this has been a let down so far. I liked Dion. I wanted Andy to have his all-star season. I wanted Kyrie to become that point guard catalyst to an unstoppable offense. I wished Wiggins best of luck and wanted K Love and everyone to gel. I was hoping on a best case scenario I guess. If any city deserves that to happen, it's Cleveland.

It's a bit soon to be jumping off the I-480 bridge. Let's see how this plays out over the next couple of years. The best-case scenario is a championship.

It's a bit soon to be jumping off the I-480 bridge. Let's see how this plays out over the next couple of years. The best-case scenario is a championship.

 

Coronado Bridge...I'm in San Diego.

Coronado Bridge...I'm in San Diego.

 

Oh lucky you! And that's a cool, sweeping bridge (for a modern bridge) from which anyone would be proud to practice their high-diving skills!

Coronado Bridge...I'm in San Diego.

 

Oh lucky you! And that's a cool, sweeping bridge (for a modern bridge) from which anyone would be proud to practice their high-diving skills!

 

Haha. It's scary to drive over it I can assure you!