Fair advantage: LeBron uses iPad during Cavs games to 'stay above the curve'

James is wise enough to take advantage of a great thing

Whether he's hitting teammates with pinpoint accurate passes or finding seams in a defense to score at the rim, LeBron James' amazing basketball IQ is on full display every time he takes the court. James' ability to see the floor is an inherent natural ability yet he is also a student of the game, poring over game film to hone his craft. James is so studious that even during games he is breaking down game tape of the contest he's playing in.

Thanks to a new NBA rule that allows teams to utilize technology and in-game footage during play, James has been breaking down opposing defenses on the Cavs bench using an iPad while he's getting his rest. James, the only Cavalier to do this, says it helps his game.

From Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon:

"Just seeing how defenses are playing me, playing us," James told cleveland.com. "Kind of watching and paying attention to the minutes I was in, so at the last three minutes of the first quarter when I come out, I can watch and see from when I was in. Then I go back in for the second, and I get it once again at the six minute mark of the second quarter. Just trying to stay above the curve and see how I can help."

...

"I like to watch the game live, too," James explained. "So I'm always watching and looking up so I know what's going on. It's beneficial.

"You should, shoot, its 2017. We should be trying to find ways to continue to build our game. Bring technology into it. If guys want the ability to watch film during the game while they're out, they should do it."

James is not the only player in the NBA to use an iPad on the bench. The Portland Trail Blazers have been using technology like an iPad on the bench for the last few years.

But it is noteworthy that James uses the iPad, mainly to break down a team's defensive scheme. This, of course, allows him to make in-game adjustments to his own game and perhaps also provide some helpful advice to Cavs coach Tyronn Lue.

Using an iPad on the bench may not exactly be a huge advantage for James, yet it is just another example of how the Cavs superstar goes above and beyond to keep getting better. And it is great example why James is the first player in the history of the NBA to score 27,000 points, grab 7,000 rebounds and dish out 7,000 assists.