LeBron may have been out, but he was never down.
LeBron faked left, drove right, exploded to the basket, elevated…and got injured.
Driving hard to the hole on Nov. 28th against the Pistons, LeBron was fouled causing a severe sprain to his left index finger. He didn’t finish the game.
With a record of 9-6, the Cavaliers were just getting their feet under them when LeBron was injured. The effects were immediate. The Cavs proceeded to lose that game and their next five games. Without their leader, the Cavs were outscored by an average of 16 points a game. It was just too hard to replace LeBron’s numbers – 30.7 points, 8.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game – or his leadership.
But the losses and his inability to help his team didn’t get LeBron down. In fact, it only energized him. There would be justice for those teams that disrespected a wounded Cavs team.
“Teams better get their wins now against us,” LeBron said. “They’re talking trash against us now because we have guys out. But when we get our guys back, it’s going to be a different story.”
And on Dec. 12th the King returned. Things were different.
Surprising everyone, LeBron didn’t start the game.
“I asked Coach to come off the bench,” said LeBron. “I thought it would raise the intensity of the fans …and it worked.”
Coming off the bench, LeBron provided the spark, leading the Cavs to a 118-105 win over the Pacers. LeBron had 17 points and five assists in 22 1/2 minutes, but more important than any stat was the confidence the team had knowing the King was back on his throne.
LeBron used the injury to motivate himself, and now he’s going to make other teams pay.
Turning a setback into motivation is another chapter in the Complete Story.
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