How as weight loss impact Lebron and Carmelo's game?

[Beat LA]

I don't think Lebron has regressed at all. He is on a new team with lesser stars around him, a new rookie coach and an unselfishness that doesn't fit with what the Cavs need right now.

I predict that in the 2nd half of the season, Lebron will take things into his own hands and kick it up to a level that no one can touch. He is still by far BY FAR the best all around player in this league. Best defender on the team (by far), best distributor, best rebounder, best scorer.

I dislike Lebron but respect him immensely.

Kevin Love isn't the best rebounder on that team?

[Moranis]

I don't think Lebron has regressed at all. He is on a new team with lesser stars around him, a new rookie coach and an unselfishness that doesn't fit with what the Cavs need right now.

I predict that in the 2nd half of the season, Lebron will take things into his own hands and kick it up to a level that no one can touch. He is still by far BY FAR the best all around player in this league. Best defender on the team (by far), best distributor, best rebounder, best scorer.

I dislike Lebron but respect him immensely.

Hence having the ball more which would make him better than we've ever seen but that's not the case, is it.

Well he is certainly passing more than he ever did in Miami, both in totals and AST%.  His shooting percentage from 2 has dropped, but he is playing more on the outside this year so that should be expected (it is also why his rebounding numbers are down). 

You seem to be more about looking at the numbers than actually watching the games.  I live in the Cleveland area so I've seen a lot of their games.  James is just playing on the outside more and trying to get his teammates more involved.  He is also learning to play in a new system, with a first time head coach, and a bunch of new teammates.  James will be fine come the playoffs.

[gift]

I'm not usually a conspiracy guy, but the drop off has been dramatic. Physically, he wasn't close to being the same player in October as he was in late June of the same year.

Shouldn't the weight loss have helped his quickness and explosiveness? Sure, there's a trade off in power and strength, but we're not even seeing the benefits. The only scenario I could see is that Lebron lost the weight for the sole purpose of extending his career, AND is consciously playing differently with the same purpose in mind. But why wouldn't he just say this? That's a legitimate and considered strategy that few could criticize (thought some still would of course).

I've never seen a dramatic drop off like this besides those due to injury. If he isn't struggling with some kind of injury (or injuries) how do you explain this effect? Combined with what is happening with changing drug policy and his weight loss all in the same summer, it really paints one of those pictures that in hindsight we could all look back at in disbelief of our naivete.

It really does remind me of all of the explanations brought up in the 90's to explain why baseball players were gaining weight and hitting home runs. There was a pretty obvious answer but it was like no one wanted to go there. I remember a story about Sammy Sosa attributing his change to getting an abscessed tooth fixed so he started eating more when it stopped hurting. Like really? His root canal was responsible for his home run performance? But people entertained the story, at least as an anecdote.

I say this as someone who doesn't care if performance enhancing substances were involved. As long as they are relatively safe for the athletes' health, I'm all for allowing them (in general, obviously there are is a lot of nuance). And I know if it ever came out about guys like James it would be a huge distraction from the great and entertaining careers they had. So I hope it's not true, and if it is, I hope it gets swept under the rug. But I can't say that I'm not legitimately suspicious.