<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">BOSTON - Back in training camp, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown boldly stated his intention to reduce LeBron James' playing time this season. All the reasons were sensible and all the intentions were good, but it was hard to seriously take him at his word. Just like Paul Silas and Brendan Malone before him, last year Brown had often found it impossible to take James off the floor. After 30 games, James is still fourth in the NBA in minutes played at 40.3 per game, but he's down two minutes per game from last season and almost four minutes from the second half of last season. ``It has been tough. A guy as talented as he is you want him on the court all the time,'' Brown said. ``I have to continue to make a conscious effort not to wear him down.'' Brown usually rests James at the start of the second and fourth quarters. It has been difficult at times, such as Tuesday night, when the Cavs started the fourth six points behind the San Antonio Spurs, but so far he's been able to stick to the plan. ``It took discipline and a little chewing on the tongue,'' Brown said. ``But it has happened.''</div> Source
It looks like LeBron's been getting some extra rest while on the court too, judging by the dip in his numbers.
Watching Hughes and Damon Jones knocking down shots and the rest of the team taking over the game without James against the Spurs brought a smile to my face
It is fantastic news that LeBron's playing time is down. He has been forced to be somewhat sluggish in parts of the season due to fatigue from having little or no break over the Summer. It could even be argued that he, though perhaps not the Cavaliers, would benefit from a week or so off. If, however, his minutes remain down, this need not be the case.
