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 The Cavaliers have two exhibition games remaining -- against the
Raptors in Toronto on Sunday and the Dallas Mavericks back in
Cleveland on Monday -- before they launch their 2015-16 campaign
against the Bulls in Chicago on Oct. 27.
"We'll see what happens at the beginning of next week," Cavaliers
coach David Blatt told reporters after team practice on Friday.
"I certainly don't expect him to play both (preseason) games and I
don't know if he'll even play one. We'll see."
Four-time most valuable player James on Tuesday received an
anti-inflammatory shot to ease discomfort in his back, a
precautionary move which he said had become customary for him during
the preseason.
"It was all part of the process," said James, an 11-time NBA
All-Star. "We had already known that, looking at the schedule,
looking at the preseason, we were going to do that. It's all part of
my maintenance program in the preseason."
James readily concedes that the Cavaliers, who were beaten by the
Golden State Warriors 4-2 in the NBA Finals four months ago, will
not be ready to start this season as genuine title challengers due
to multiple injuries.
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Kyrie Irving (knee surgery), Iman Shumpert (wrist surgery), Kevin
Love (shoulder surgery), J.R. Smith (hamstring) and Matthew
Dellavedova (sore ankle) are among those players who have either
missed games or not played during the preseason.
"I don't think we will immediately be able to play at a high level
because we have so many guys out," James said. "I don't think our
chemistry is where it needs to be to start the season off.
"I think as we get guys back into the flow of things, guys come back
off of injury and we're able to put the time in on the practice
floor, I think we'll be a much better team."
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Steve
Keating)
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