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A case can be made that James Harden is the NBA’s true MVP, based on Win Share.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — LeBron James leaned against a padded basket stanchion and spun a ball on his index finger. As it rotated, his brain seemed to be turning just as quickly.

He’s plotting his next move against Chicago.

After losing Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series to the Bulls 99-92, James and the Cleveland Cavaliers regrouped on Tuesday.

James came within one assist of a triple-double, but he wasn’t happy with his performance. And with Cleveland missing starters Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, the four-time league MVP knows it’s going to be up to him and All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to even the series Wednesday.

“I’ve never went into a game saying, ‘OK I’m going to be ultra-aggressive,’ ” he said. “I’ve always had to feel out things. But last night it was a little bit too much feel out. I only had two shots at one point. I was just not as aggressive offensively as I was defensively. We’ll see. I think I may have to change my mindset a little bit with Kev being out.”

The Bulls can sense that James may shift into another gear in Game 2.

“I think he’s going to try and dictate the whole game from both sides of the ball,” said Derrick Rose, whose right shoulder is fine after he suffered a “stinger” late in Game 1. “That’s something we have to be prepared for because he can actually do that.”