LeBron James' assists expected to go up

LeBron James has always had the reputation of being one of the best passers in the NBA, but he'll have a chance to show it more than ever this season as the Miami Heat added some of the best shooters in NBA history.

Since he's one of the most talented scorers in the league's history, people often forget that James is an immensely talented passer. James was occasionally billed as a point guard upon entering the league, and often has had the responsibility of bringing the ball up court despite his size. Although James was put alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, both are players more adept at creating their own shots than finishing James' assists. Now, the team has added Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, who stand at first and eighth on the NBA all-time 3-point shots list, respectively. They'll be able to sit outside the arc and wait for James' passes, something which James is quite pleased with. From Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

"It's great to have those options," James said. "It's definitely something that you love going into a game, with knowing that no matter who you throw the ball to, they can make a shot from any part of the floor. And the offense provides that."

James said that he hasn't "had this much firepower around me before". The team still has Shane Battier, James Jones, and Mike Miller, all of whom are more than proficient at shooting from beyond the arc.