LOS ANGELES: LeBron James believes if he were averaging 16 points a game, there would be no controversy over NBA stars resting in nationally televised games.
“I don’t understand why it’s become a problem now, because I sit out a couple games?” James said. “That is the case. It’s absolutely the case.”
James also believes if Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue had the stature in the league of the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich, who has used the tactic en route to five NBA championships, there would be no uproar.
“Pop’s been doing this for 10 years, 12 years, 15 years and everybody was like, ‘That’s the smartest thing Pop has ever done. Give his guys a couple games off and here they go and win five championships,’ ” James said. “But some of our coaches in our league don’t have the stature that Pop has and our head coach doesn’t have it so he gets killed for it. So, I got to keep winning to help my coach be able to have a reason why he can sit his players.”
Lue lightheartedly pointed out before practice began Tuesday at the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center at UCLA that he has only coached 95 games. James jokingly told Lue to put him down for a fever for Wednesday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.
But that did little to mask the Cavs’ belief they were unfairly targeted by the memo NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sent to team owners Monday regarding resting star players.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne obtained a copy of Silver’s memo, which said owners should be involved in decisions on the issue and should not defer to others who might not comprehend the ramifications for fans, business partners and the league’s reputation. According to Shelburne, Silver suggested “significant penalties” for teams that don’t provide ample notice about players who won’t participate.
When Lue was asked how he will handle an upcoming back-to-back Friday at Charlotte and Saturday at home against Washington, Lue said: “I don’t know. Call the owner.”
Silver’s memo stemmed from Lue’s decision to sit James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love in Saturday night’s featured game on ABC against the Los Angeles Clippers. The previous Saturday, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr rested his top four against the San Antonio Spurs.
Against the Clippers, two of the Cavs’ Big Three had injury issues. Irving experienced tightness in his knee Thursday against the Pistons. Love was just one game into his return from arthroscopic knee surgery. Lue decided to rest James and play all three together Sunday against the Lakers.
At age 32, four-time league MVP James is averaging 26.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists and has a career-high 10 triple-doubles for the defending NBA champions. He’s missed six games this season, one with strep throat and five for rest.
Lue, who played 11 seasons in the NBA, said he knew there would “probably” be an uproar when the made the decision.
He said he respects and “loves” Silver, but added: “I just did what’s best for our team. Nothing against the NBA. I respect the NBA. The NBA has given me my life. When they come up with something we need to do, it’s the right thing for the situation we’re in, then we’re going to do it and abide by the rules.”
Asked to expand on the different standard to which he’s held, James said: “I don’t want to start the conversation that I’m held to a different set of rules because I’m not. I don’t know how many guys we got in the league today, 450 maybe. I just know the conversation gets a little bit more talked about when I’m a part of it. If it’s somebody else it gets blown up briefly, it gets talked about a little bit, but it doesn’t have legs and it’s gone. But as soon as I’m involved it’s just a whole different situation.”
James found it ludicrous that owners should be involved in the decisions to rest players.
“There’s owners that are not even around the teams. There’s owners that are just owning the team because they just own the team,” James said. “What does that make any sense of? Adam is great. Adam is fantastic. I love what Adam is doing for our league, but I don’t see how that [would help].”
As for possible fines, James said: “I don’t own the team. So, I don’t have to pay that fine.”
Silver’s suggestions could lead to teams making up injuries to get their top players the time off they need. A recent study by ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh calculated that James’ 199 career playoff games have added 2.7 seasons to his 14-year career.
“At the end of the day, I’ve played through injuries my whole career,” James said. “So I deserve to get a game every now and then.”
Thompson absent
Tristan Thompson missed practice to see a dentist after having his two front teeth pushed back by an elbow from the Lakers’ Julius Randle Sunday. Lue said the braces put on by the Lakers’ team dentist were just temporary until Thompson could get further attention, and that Thompson would play Wednesday.
Korver update
Kyle Korver, who has missed seven consecutive games with a sore tendon in his left foot, got through the entire practice, the Cavs said. How he comes out of it will determine his status against the Nuggets.
“It’s taken a lot longer than I thought it was going to,” Korver said. “I feel a lot better, like I’ve been sitting a long time. Definitely rested, my foot’s feeling stronger.”
Korver said the majority of his shots are over his left shoulder, so that foot is the one he plants on more, likely contributing to the “wear and tear” he’s had with it over the years.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.
