Celtics coach: James has raised game
BOSTON — After seven NBA Finals appearances, three titles and four league MVPs, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers is better now than perhaps ever before, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.
“It’s hard to believe, but he’s better than when I got
into the league,” Stevens said on Wednesday after a 117-104 pounding in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. “As you get older, you gain more experiences, you see more things. I didn’t think he could get any better after that, but he is.”
Stevens took over the Celtics in 2013. James ripped the Celtics for 38 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in Game 1. He shot 14 of 24 from the field and 9 of 11 from three-point range. James had 15 points in the first quarter on seven baskets at the rim.
On one play, James saw Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk switch onto him. So he turned his back to Olynyk, dribbled backwards through his legs, then turned and drove to the rim for a layup as though Olynyk was watching the play unfold on the curb.
“He made it clear, it was very clear that he was trying to get to the rim on us no matter who was on him,” Stevens said.
Stevens’ first look at James in the playoffs was in 2015, when the Cavs swept the Celtics out of the first round. James averaged 27 points and nine rebounds in that series and went on to carry an injury-ravaged team to two wins in the NBA Finals.
To Stevens, this version of James is better. He has scored at least 30 points in seven straight games and 35 or more in the last five.
“Tonight was another one of those games where I made a couple plays to help us get a win,” James said.
If James is better, or more comfortable, or more efficient than he has been in years, what about the Cavs? In Game 1, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson both set career playoff highs with 32 and 20 points, respectively.
Stevens said the Celtics changed how they defended James in the third quarter, after he had posted 23 points in the first half, and Love went off for 18 points and five three-pointers.
“Once we started helping and overhelping a little bit, Love goes nuts in the third quarter,” Stevens said. “This is the predicament they put you in.”
The Celtics were torched by James and Love, and then by Thompson. But Kyrie Irving, who entered Game 1 averaging 23.8 points in the playoffs, scored just 11. J.R. Smith scored the first basket of the game and finished with two points. Kyle Korver was 1 of 6 from three-point range. Channing Frye barely played.
That’s four potential weapons who were relative duds in Game 1, and the Celtics still stood no chance.
“I don’t even think we played that great,” James said. “We definitely didn’t shoot the ball as well as we’re capable of shooting. I know Kyle had three or four very, very good looks that he missed when we had a good stretch.
“But I think the energy and the effort and the mindset was where it needed to be starting on the road, especially in the Eastern Conference finals.”