Lebron James out, further treatment on knee

[celticsclay]

Lebron James has flew back to LA and is out until the swelling in his knee goes down. This has to be one of the most predictable injury this season as the lakers were playing him a ridiculous amount of minutes. Some will try to argue they need to, but Lebron has also been in there deep in the 4th in blowouts trying to add points to his total and average. After being the best iron man since Malone it feels like Lebron James has battled an injury every year in LA.

[hpantazo]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

[SHAQATTACK]

Very itty bitty violins playing between my fingers

[celticsclay]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Sounds like just overuse. Said he woke up and it was swelled up and swelling has not gone down.

[hpantazo]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Sounds like just overuse. Said he woke up and it was swelled up and swelling has not gone down.

That's not good.

[Roy H.]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

[celticsclay]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

I don’t understand what you mean by this. It’s obviously just speculation but if his knees became like Kemba it wouldn’t matter if he was 25 he just wouldn’t be able to stay on the floor (which is why Kemba went from all star to a guy making 4 million and out of his teams rotation).

[Roy H.]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

I don’t understand what you mean by this. It’s obviously just speculation but if his knees became like Kemba it wouldn’t matter if he was 25 he just wouldn’t be able to stay on the floor (which is why Kemba went from all star to a guy making 4 million and out of his teams rotation).

Kemba sits in part because he’s ineffective, mostly because he can’t play Thibs’ defense.  If he can’t score, he doesn’t contribute.  That’s why he sat. (BTW, he’s been back in the rotation and starting for awhile now).

Lebron can post-up, rebound, pass.  Size and elite passing ability matter.  And, Lebron has a long way to go before his knees are like Kemba’s.  Kemba had had “overuse” knee injuries for awhile now.  Those knees have been detiorating since his surgery in Charlotte.

[SHAQATTACK]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

I don’t understand what you mean by this. It’s obviously just speculation but if his knees became like Kemba it wouldn’t matter if he was 25 he just wouldn’t be able to stay on the floor (which is why Kemba went from all star to a guy making 4 million and out of his teams rotation).

You are correct …but for the sake of all the young guys here …it helps if your old enough to realize this …..like me ……when I was 30 , I thought I could do those things forever , treat my body to moto cross ,  and other brutal games . …..but everybody wears out eventually……nobody escapes father time .    Lebron has done a fantastic job extending his playing life as has Tom Brady .   IT and Kemba had to go too hard as they were small dudes , thus wearing the old joints out early.   Heck many of the football stars in my HS are dead now , they killed their back , hips and knees …then sat around in pain …..got fat and died of heart disease.

[celticsclay]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

I don’t understand what you mean by this. It’s obviously just speculation but if his knees became like Kemba it wouldn’t matter if he was 25 he just wouldn’t be able to stay on the floor (which is why Kemba went from all star to a guy making 4 million and out of his teams rotation).

Kemba sits in part because he’s ineffective, mostly because he can’t play Thibs’ defense.  If he can’t score, he doesn’t contribute.  That’s why he sat. (BTW, he’s been back in the rotation and starting for awhile now).

Lebron can post-up, rebound, pass.  Size and elite passing ability matter.  And, Lebron has a long way to go before his knees are like Kemba’s.  Kemba had had “overuse” knee injuries for awhile now.  Those knees have been detiorating since his surgery in Charlotte.

The main reason Kemba got back in the rotation is cause rose got hurt. Not cause he was playing better consistently. Don’t think thibs is going to keep his favorite player in the league plastered to bench when he returns.

[Roy H.]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

I don’t understand what you mean by this. It’s obviously just speculation but if his knees became like Kemba it wouldn’t matter if he was 25 he just wouldn’t be able to stay on the floor (which is why Kemba went from all star to a guy making 4 million and out of his teams rotation).

Kemba sits in part because he’s ineffective, mostly because he can’t play Thibs’ defense.  If he can’t score, he doesn’t contribute.  That’s why he sat. (BTW, he’s been back in the rotation and starting for awhile now).

Lebron can post-up, rebound, pass.  Size and elite passing ability matter.  And, Lebron has a long way to go before his knees are like Kemba’s.  Kemba had had “overuse” knee injuries for awhile now.  Those knees have been detiorating since his surgery in Charlotte.

The main reason Kemba got back in the rotation is cause rose got hurt. Not cause he was playing better consistently. Don’t think thibs is going to keep his favorite player in the league plastered to bench when he returns.

Right.  You’re missing the point.  Kemba sits, not because of pain but because he can’t / doesn’t do the Things Thibs wants. 

Lebron — assuming the pain didn’t keep him out — would be much more effective.

[celticsclay]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

I don’t understand what you mean by this. It’s obviously just speculation but if his knees became like Kemba it wouldn’t matter if he was 25 he just wouldn’t be able to stay on the floor (which is why Kemba went from all star to a guy making 4 million and out of his teams rotation).

Kemba sits in part because he’s ineffective, mostly because he can’t play Thibs’ defense.  If he can’t score, he doesn’t contribute.  That’s why he sat. (BTW, he’s been back in the rotation and starting for awhile now).

Lebron can post-up, rebound, pass.  Size and elite passing ability matter.  And, Lebron has a long way to go before his knees are like Kemba’s.  Kemba had had “overuse” knee injuries for awhile now.  Those knees have been detiorating since his surgery in Charlotte.

The main reason Kemba got back in the rotation is cause rose got hurt. Not cause he was playing better consistently. Don’t think thibs is going to keep his favorite player in the league plastered to bench when he returns.

Right.  You’re missing the point.  Kemba sits, not because of pain but because he can’t / doesn’t do the Things Thibs wants. 

Lebron — assuming the pain didn’t keep him out — would be much more effective.

Well we are kind of at the point of splitting hairs here. I agree Lebron would be better than Kemba even with one leg. I do think Kemba sits for both reasons. He can’t play back to backs and he certainly can’t consistently play 35 minutes a game because of his knee. If hypothetically Lebron had his knee get to that level it would not be possible for him to be a top ten player. He would still be effective in managed minutes but top ten players need to have more
Availability than that. This is again speculation, and not super likely. But I do think swelling in your knee not going down from no apparent contact or twist is usually a pretty bad sign for athletes long term.

[hpantazo]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

I don’t understand what you mean by this. It’s obviously just speculation but if his knees became like Kemba it wouldn’t matter if he was 25 he just wouldn’t be able to stay on the floor (which is why Kemba went from all star to a guy making 4 million and out of his teams rotation).

Kemba sits in part because he’s ineffective, mostly because he can’t play Thibs’ defense.  If he can’t score, he doesn’t contribute.  That’s why he sat. (BTW, he’s been back in the rotation and starting for awhile now).

Lebron can post-up, rebound, pass.  Size and elite passing ability matter.  And, Lebron has a long way to go before his knees are like Kemba’s.  Kemba had had “overuse” knee injuries for awhile now.  Those knees have been detiorating since his surgery in Charlotte.

The main reason Kemba got back in the rotation is cause rose got hurt. Not cause he was playing better consistently. Don’t think thibs is going to keep his favorite player in the league plastered to bench when he returns.

Right.  You’re missing the point.  Kemba sits, not because of pain but because he can’t / doesn’t do the Things Thibs wants. 

Lebron — assuming the pain didn’t keep him out — would be much more effective.

Late career Washington version of MJ effective, sure. Top 10 player in the NBA effective, not even close.

[Roy H.]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

I don’t understand what you mean by this. It’s obviously just speculation but if his knees became like Kemba it wouldn’t matter if he was 25 he just wouldn’t be able to stay on the floor (which is why Kemba went from all star to a guy making 4 million and out of his teams rotation).

Kemba sits in part because he’s ineffective, mostly because he can’t play Thibs’ defense.  If he can’t score, he doesn’t contribute.  That’s why he sat. (BTW, he’s been back in the rotation and starting for awhile now).

Lebron can post-up, rebound, pass.  Size and elite passing ability matter.  And, Lebron has a long way to go before his knees are like Kemba’s.  Kemba had had “overuse” knee injuries for awhile now.  Those knees have been detiorating since his surgery in Charlotte.

The main reason Kemba got back in the rotation is cause rose got hurt. Not cause he was playing better consistently. Don’t think thibs is going to keep his favorite player in the league plastered to bench when he returns.

Right.  You’re missing the point.  Kemba sits, not because of pain but because he can’t / doesn’t do the Things Thibs wants. 

Lebron — assuming the pain didn’t keep him out — would be much more effective.

Late career Washington version of MJ effective, sure. Top 10 player in the NBA effective, not even close.

There’s no way Lebron is shooting 41% like MJ did.  The man is scoring the 3rd most points per game of his career. 

Lebron could lose 25% of his production across the board and he’d still be averaging 22 / 6 / 5. 

[hpantazo]

Did he bang it or twist it, or is it an overuse issue? If it's overuse/age, he's on his way to Kemba Walker territory.

Even then I still think he’d be a top 10 player.  He’s big without being out of shape.  I think he could be effective into his early 40s, even with injuries.

I don’t understand what you mean by this. It’s obviously just speculation but if his knees became like Kemba it wouldn’t matter if he was 25 he just wouldn’t be able to stay on the floor (which is why Kemba went from all star to a guy making 4 million and out of his teams rotation).

Kemba sits in part because he’s ineffective, mostly because he can’t play Thibs’ defense.  If he can’t score, he doesn’t contribute.  That’s why he sat. (BTW, he’s been back in the rotation and starting for awhile now).

Lebron can post-up, rebound, pass.  Size and elite passing ability matter.  And, Lebron has a long way to go before his knees are like Kemba’s.  Kemba had had “overuse” knee injuries for awhile now.  Those knees have been detiorating since his surgery in Charlotte.

The main reason Kemba got back in the rotation is cause rose got hurt. Not cause he was playing better consistently. Don’t think thibs is going to keep his favorite player in the league plastered to bench when he returns.

Right.  You’re missing the point.  Kemba sits, not because of pain but because he can’t / doesn’t do the Things Thibs wants. 

Lebron — assuming the pain didn’t keep him out — would be much more effective.

Late career Washington version of MJ effective, sure. Top 10 player in the NBA effective, not even close.

There’s no way Lebron is shooting 41% like MJ did.  The man is scoring the 3rd most points per game of his career. 

Lebron could lose 25% of his production across the board and he’d still be averaging 22 / 6 / 5.

When your legs start to go from knee trouble, your shooting drops, and it all happens relatively fast. Lebron could still put up decent numbers for a few more years, but the days of performing as a top 10 player and impacting winning at that level, I can't see it happening.