All or nothing
For the third time in the past four NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers enter Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors in a win-or-make-summer-vacation-plans situation.
CLEVELAND — LeBron James laughed as he came around the backstage partition after arriving fashionably late for his crowded, post-practice news conference.
As he stepped onto the podium, James seemed at ease, almost content. No signs of stress anywhere.
Moments later, his demeanor shifted.
A few reminders about his team’s urgent predicament against Golden State and another review of Cleveland’s heartbreaking loss in Oakland swung his emotions.
“I know it feels like we’re down 2-0, and I don’t like the way I feel,” James said. “I don’t like the mood that I’m in right now. There’s no, like, ‘OK, you’re down 2-0 and you feel better than when you’re down 2-0 before.’ When you’re down like this, in a deficit like this — versus a team like this — there’s no good feeling. So I don’t feel good about it.”
For the third time in the past four Finals, James and his teammates enter Game 3 against the Warriors in a winor-make-summer-vacationplans situation. After they wasted a 51-point effort by James to let Game 1 slip away in overtime — and after Stephen Curry’s nine three-pointers in Game 2 — the Cavs are faced with the reality that their season is in serious jeopardy.
Coach Tyronn Lue, who said he plans to give struggling forward Rodney Hood playing time tonight in Game 3, feels his team can change the complexion of this series.
“We’re very confident we can do that,” Lue said. “The guys are engaged and locked in. Winning tomorrow is a step forward, but then going out with Game 4 also. We’re locked into doing that, and we know we can.”
Cleveland has endured injuries, trades, tragedy and drama for months. The Cavs, who climbed from a 2-0 hole to beat Boston in the conference finals, have been resilient for most of the season.
“We’ve been very persistent … this whole season, no matter what has been going on,” James said. “We have an opportunity to come home and protect home, as Golden
State has done. It’s a very tall task. A very tough challenge going against these guys, going against this team.”
Teams who have taken a 2-0 lead are 29-4 in the Finals, but the Warriors know better than to be overconfident. They’ve learned the hard way.
Golden State held a 3-1 lead in the 2016 Finals before the Cavs rallied to win three consecutive games and dethrone the Warriors. Last year, the Warriors trailed by six with 3:09 left before storming back to win 118-113 in Game 3.
“I don’t really think about being up 2-0 because the series could turn so fast,” Warriors star Kevin Durant said. “It’s a great position to be in. I don’t want to take that for granted. But the job is not done, and you can’t relax or be comfortable when you’re still trying to win this thing. We know coming on the road is going to be tougher.”
The Warriors may have Andre Iguodala back for the first time in the series.
One of the team’s best defenders, Iguodala has missed six consecutive games with a left knee injury suffered in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. Coach Steve Kerr said the 34-year-old has improved.
While Kerr looked forward, James was forced to take another glance back at Game 1.
On Sunday, uncut TV footage showed James uncomfortably sitting on Cleveland’s bench next to J.R. Smith, who inexplicably dribbled out the final seconds of regulation. James was shown asking Lue if the team had any timeouts and then reacting as if he had been punched in the stomach when he learned the Cavs could have stopped the clock.
“Damn cameras,” James joked when asked about the video. “I finally got Game 1 out of my head. You’re taking me back, huh?”