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Cavs’ James says layoff helped him
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LeBron James said Sunday he felt better in his three games back from injury than at any point in the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James missed eight games to rest a sore back and a sore left knee and, in his return, the star forward averaged 33.7 points and 7.7 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Cavs (21-20) have back-to-back wins after going 1-7 without James.
“I know, for me personally, (the two-week layoff) helped me out a lot,” James said. “I’ve felt better in the last three games than I did the whole season, the whole 30-plus games that I appeared in. We’ve had a 2-1 record since I’ve been back, so hopefully we can continue on that path.”
James made 34 of 65 shots (52.3 percent) in his three games back. For the season, James is shooting 49.2 percentage — his lowest since the 2008-09 season — and his 26-point average is his lowest since his rookie year in 2003-04. He is averaging 5.5 rebounds per game — down from his career average of 7.2.– but his assists average is up to 7.4 per game.
Injuries have plagued the Cavs, including losing center Anderson Varejao for the season to a torn Achilles.
Forward Kevin Love missed Friday’s 126-121 win over the Clippers with a back injury, but he practiced Sunday and is officially questionable for the Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
“We’re starting to pick it up and guys are starting to get healthy, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can become up until the All-Star break and even more than that,” James said.
