LeBron James might become the first player to have his jersey retired by three different franchises that he played for, but he will always be remembered as a Cleveland Cavalier. Dubbing himself “just a kid from Akron” cemented his case as a Cav for life, even if he left Cleveland in free agency twice.
In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers are under a lot of pressure to succeed. Between James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have the talent to make a Finals bid.
In the East, after losing in the second round two years in a row, the Cavaliers are under just as much pressure as anyone in the league.
GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket around Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on November 25, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Lakers defeated the Cavaliers 121-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
LeBron James Outlines Cleveland Cavaliers’ Pressure
The Cavaliers finished last season with the best record in the East before falling to the Indiana Pacers in the second round.
In 2022, Cleveland went all-in on a title-worthy core, adding Donovan Mitchell to a core of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland. So far, they’ve fallen short. James remains the only star to take the Cavs to the Finals, let alone win a ring.
The Cavaliers have certainly heard the doubters, and James thinks the pressure is weighing on them.
“I think it’s pressure from within,” said James of the Cavaliers on his Mind the Game podcast. “I think they saw the success they had last year.”
James readily admits that Cleveland plays a winning game, even without him in town: “They play a great style of basketball. That ball is popping, it’s moving, they’re getting dribble drives, like you say, working the blender. They shoot it well, they pass well.”
All four core players in Cleveland are All-Stars, they have depth on both ends of the ball, and the Eastern Conference is wide open. While the Cavs might be magnifying the pressure on themselves, that’s not to say it doesn’t exist.
Cleveland Cavaliers Need to Make the NBA Finals
The New York Knicks and Orlando Magic are the Cavaliers’ only true rivals this season. Everyone else in the East either took a step back or is yet to fully make the leap.
If the Cavs get off to a slow start, there’s no reason for them not to blow up the roster. If they fall short in the playoffs, major changes will be necessary.
“I feel like if I was someone from the outside looking in, I feel like they’re putting pressure on themselves to make the next jump,” James added. “You know, they’re probably looking at, you know, ‘It could have been us versus OKC in the Finals.’”
Of course, not all of the noise is coming internally.
âI think they’re under the most pressure of any team coming into the season,” he declared.
The East is up for grabs, and if Cleveland falls short, it will be a tough mark to erase on Mitchell’s legacy as a winning player.
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