LeBron's New England Patriots analogy for this year's Cavs

LeBron's New England Patriots analogy for this year's Cavs

Published Sep. 29, 2014 2:30 p.m. ET

The New England Patriots have been one of the most successful NFL teams over the past decade, led by quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick.

Brady and Belichick have brought four Super Bowl titles to New England in their time together. As LeBron James begins his second journey with the Cavs, he'd like to see his team channel some of their traits.

In talking about point guard Kyrie Irving in a one-on-one interview with Fred McLeod, James goes into a football analogy.

"He has to be the quarterback of our team. He has to be Tom Brady for our team to be successful," James said. "I can play a little Belichick."

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We'll know that comes to fruition if James starts wearing mangled hoodies to postgame news conferences.

Irving though is a key cog in the Cavs' success. He's already an All-Star and adding James, Kevin Love and other veterans to the mix should only enhance his abilities. James has learned plenty over the past four years playing off the ball with Dwayne Wade and sees a versatile role for Irving with this edition of the Cavs.

"I want him to run our team. I want him to be the same player he was this summer running Team USA," James said of Irving.

Irving was particularly impressive in that role at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he was awarded MVP honors.

The journey to a title is no easy task, which James knows well. He calls it "the hardest thing he has ever accomplished" and is well aware of the challenge ahead.

"We cannot skip November and DVR straight to June," James said.

But when June does come, he hopes all the hard work pays off in a monumental moment for Cleveland.

"For me, I've had visions of having a party bus and boats and floats going down East 9th," James said.  

The city of Cleveland is right there with him.

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