Rite of spring: LeBron forced to carry Cavs

0-2 to Celtics, teammates know they need to step up.

Celtics at Cavs, 8:30 p.m., ESPN INDEPENDENCE, OHIO — LeBron James recovered quickly from his neck strain. There’s have to give him an opporstill too much stress on his tunity to make him feel conback. fident to give us the ball so

He’s carrying the Cavawe can make the right plays. liers. It’s a springtime traWe got to help him and he’s dition. got to help us.”

As has been the case for Cavs coach Tyronn Lue much of his 15-year career, said James “did everything” James has had to perform in practice Thursday, but the at an extraordinary level 33-year-old had left the floor throughout these playoffs, by the time media members most recently in Cleveland’s were allowed in for interGame 2 loss at Boston. views. James was spotted

Bouncing back after takin the fitness and training ing a blow to the jaw from area inside the facility. Jayson Tatum’s shoulder that Lue said the Cavs spent violently twisted his head time breaking down video and sent a chill down the of the two losses. There was spines of Cleveland fans, plenty to dissect.

James finished with 42 Cleveland has had puzpoints, 10 rebounds and zling defensive lapses, and 12 assists. Lue said there were up to

It was not enough, hownine instances in Game 2 ever. His teammates failed alone where communicahim and the Cavs fell into tion breakdowns led to easy a 2-0 hole in the Eastern baskets or open shots for Conference finals. the Celtics.

Kevin Love (22 points, 15 On offense, Lue feels rebounds) helped, so did Smi t h a nd poi n t gu a rd Kyle Korver (four 3-point- George H ill, who have ers) and Tristan Thompson been outscored 72-12 in two (8 points, 7 rebounds). But games by Jaylen Brown and too many other Cavs ranged Terry Rozier, need to be from mediocre to awful. more aggressive and attack

If Cleveland is to even the the basket. series at home, that has to Smith believes it’s simchange starting in Game 3 pler than that. on Saturday. “Make shots, that’s the

have to ramp it up,” only thing we can do,” said said J.R. Smith, who didn’t Smith, who is 2 for 17, includscore in Game 2 and commiting 0 for 7 on 3-pointers, in ted a critical flagrant foul. the series. “I mean obvi“We’re playing too slow. ously we can do more on We’re making ’Bron play the defensive side, but our hero ball, which is tough to main focus is to make shots do, especially in the Eastern right now when we get it. Conference finals. We got to If we don’t have them, try help him. With that said, we to make the next-best play.