True Hoop Article: LeBron’s obsessive intensity fits the pandemic bubble

The brilliant Marcus Elliott of @P3sportscience said the 2020 NBA playoffs, preceded by months at home, would be the year of the self-motivated.

That reminded me of some things I learned about @KingJames and the @lakers.

FREE FOR ALL: https://t.co/aXibw8VbHg

— Henry Abbott (@TrueHoop) July 28, 2020

Then there’s LeBron. A core workout he posted at the pandemic’s peak in April, along with his lean shirtlessness, communicated a lot about his downtime or lack thereof. (First comment: “no fat at all on this king.”)

The bizarre conditions of this NBA playoff bubble will favor those who work hard when nobody is watching. Indeed we have reports—both anecdotal from the bubble, and scientific from P3’s Marcus Elliott’s assessments of its clients—that NBA players are going into these playoffs with a never-seen-before spread in fitness. Some are huffing and puffing up the court, blatantly above their ideal weight. Others are at their fittest ever. 2020, Dr. Elliott suggests, will be the year of the self-motivated.

Advantage: LeBron.
…

And also, maybe this year, when the trick is to avoid the coronavirus, there’s a premium on obsession. Don’t we all want someone very detail-oriented overseeing … everything? While the rival Clippers are dealing with an unapproved outing to a strip club, and a resulting quarantine, it’s notable that LeBron and the Lakers sometimes practice in masks. There’s a “locked in” quality to this team. Here is LeBron cursing due to a single missed shot over a 48-year-old assistant coach. The team has ended recent huddles saying “1,2,3 Mamba.”

The Bucks have the NBA’s best record and an easier path to the Finals. The Clippers are formidable. David Thorpe will update us on everyone’s title odds on this website later this week. But if this is the season the title goes to the self-motivated, it’s hard to bet against LeBron. He has brought purpose to the bubble.

LeBron has long been determined to be the best player.

Can he be the best teammate, too? Ask JR Smith.