A lot of people made a big deal about LeBron James bringing his chalk toss back to Cleveland – especially LeBron, who polled fans about whether he should do the ritual.
Of course, the overwhelming response was yes, because only the people who want to see it cared enough to participate in the unscientific survey.
But the toss was short-lived.
Joe Vardon of The Plain Dealer:
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LeBron has gone back and forth with the chalk toss throughout his career, and he’s not the first player to do it, but he’s done it enough to become associated with the routine. At this point, it’s a marketing display that builds his brand.
However, winning is more important to LeBron’s prestige, and after a 5-7 start by the Cavaliers, he’s clearly trying to adjust however he can.
That’s not to say his new pregame routine has changed the fortunes of Cleveland, which has won three straight. There’s probably no direct effect on the chalk toss and winning, though LeBron has probably called more than enough attention to himself while putting down his teammates.
The macro logic is more important than the micro here. “A player on a streak has to respect the streak.”