The Cleveland Cavaliers will again aim high this 2015–16 season and will rely on their trusty star LeBron James who accepted the challenge of being the leader but believes there is no need to carry the whole team on his back.
Again the Cavaliers are facing a familiar foe with injuries to key players like last season, which derailed what could have been a breakout year for the franchise.
"I will lead this team, but I don't have to carry it," James said before their preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks, according to ESPN. "We have enough guys until all our guys get here."
"Until Kyrie [Irving] and Tristan [Thompson] and [Iman Shumpert] is ready, we have enough guys that will all help. It's not about me carrying the team and that nature. We're all grown men, we're all professionals and they're here to do their job," he also added.
Irving is still recovering from a knee injury suffered last season; Shumpert is out for three months following a wrist surgery; and Thompson is currently in a holdout due to a contract dispute with the team.
Last season, the Cavs had injuries to big men Anderson Varejão, Kevin Love, and Timofey Mozgov, and then lost Irving in Game 1 of the Finals.
Good thing guys like guards J.R. Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, and Shumpert, with Thompson and forward James Jones, stepped up to help James in a tough campaign.
Now that those injured players are coming back for the Cavaliers, also with the addition of veterans point guard Mo Williams and forward Richard Jefferson, together with center Sasha Kaun, the team will now be working again toward their championship aspirations.
The Cavaliers began their preseason last Wednesday, currently having two losses, and will play five more games before opening the 2015–16 season on Oct. 27 against the Chicago Bulls.
