Since LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers a consistent topic of discussion seemingly has been on the issue of James sitting out games for rest throughout the regular season.
Ideally you want your best players to play in as many games as possible, however what we have come to learn is that in order to be ready for June, LeBron James will have to games off in January, February, March, etc. Sure the point can be made it disappoints the fans when a player like James takes a game off, but with almost 14 seasons completed in the NBA and over 40,000 minutes logged on the court in the regular season, James has earned the right to sit out games.
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LeBron essentially has the blueprint on how to reach the NBA Finals, he has been there six consecutive years. James often talks about “the process” and how himself or the Cavs cannot skip any part of the process on the way to competing for a championship. One step of that process has become James sitting out a handful of games every season as the playoffs approach.
James even mentioned it during a recent press conference, saying everyone did not have such a huge issue with players resting games until he started sitting out games for rest. To an extent he is right in saying that. San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich has been resting players for years for the exact same reason James is sitting games out. He wants his top players at 100 percent when the playoffs begin.
More to that point of rest only being a problem when it involves James; the league office and Adam Silver made it publicly known that they were unhappy about Tyronn Lue’s decision to sit James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love during the primetime ABC game on March 18th game against the Los Angeles Clippers. However there was little to be said when Steve Kerr choose to sit his starters for their ABC primetime game against the Spurs.
Why is James resting national news but when the Warriors chose to do the same thing it barely receives any attention? Because it involves James and everything involving him is magnified and sometimes blown out of proportion.
Especially over the last month current and former players have responded to the topic of resting during the regular season. MVP candidate Russell Westbrook’s stance on this subject was strong, as you can see from his quote from The Oklahoman below.
Per The Oklahoman: “I like to play basketball, so I like to go out and compete and have fun,” Westbrook said. “I think for me I look at (rest) differently just because from being hurt and missing a lot of games, I embrace every moment I have an opportunity to play basketball and enjoy any time I can to get on the floor and play.”
One ex-player who came to the defense of James recently was Kobe Bryant, who said on ESPN’s First Take that LeBron has done so much for the league, he has earned to right to take nights off.
“When you miss a game, there is that one kid out there who isn’t going to be able to see his favorite player play. With that being said, LeBron has done so much for the game and he’s earned the opportunity to be able to take a rest, he’s earned that…He has done so much to elevate the game and has earned the right for us to give him the benefit of the doubt.”
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Regardless what other players may think when it comes to resting vs. playing, there are only a handful of games left until the regular season is over and the playoffs begin. Once that happens James will be back on the floor at full strength and with so many seeming to doubt James and questioning his process, James will surely be chomping at the bit to prove everyone wrong once again and bring back another championship to his hometown team.