But the lighthearted interplay often devolves during games. James will shout at Mozgov for a failed defensive assignment, criticize him when a play isn’t executed properly, implore the big man to make every part of his 7-foot-1, 275-pound frame felt by the opposition.
James and the Miami Heat often lashed out at Mario Chalmers during the Big Three era. Now Mozgov is getting guff from James in Cleveland.
The hulking center seemed to fit in seamlessly last season. Mozgov averaged 10.6 points (on 59.0 percent shooting) and 6.9 rebounds after the January trade that brought him to the Cavs from Denver. He also stepped up in the NBA Finals with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving out, scoring 16 points or more in four of the six Finals games (including 28 in Game 4) and grabbing double-digit rebounds in three of the games.
But Mosgov's averages through 11 games this season have fallen to 8.5 points (on 51.6 percent shooting) and 5.0 rebounds.
Cavs associate head coach Tyronn Lue even made an example of Mozgov at practice after the big man was repeatedly scored on in the post by Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jahlil Okafor in the fourth game this season.
Lue showed Mozgov what he wanted -- crouch low, lean his weight into the opposition, spring up straight -- and then had Mozgov try. Over and over again, Lue stopped to correct Mozgov before hailing James over from an adjacent court to join in. Mozgov appeared anything but comfortable as nearly half the team gathered and watched him struggle.
