Tough team in tough spot
NBA FINALS Resilient Ca vs back home with work cut out againstWarriors
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 Tuesday, back among friendly faces and in the building where he has done some of his finest work, James seemed at ease, almost content. No signs of stress anywhere.
Moments later, his demeanor shifted.
A few reminders about his team’s predicament against the Warriors, questions about President Donald Trump and another review of the Cavaliers’ 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’min 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— against a team like this— there’s no good feeling. So I don’t feel good about it.”
For the third time in the last four Finals, James and his teammates enter Game 3 against the Warriors in a win- or- make- summer- vacationplans situation. After they wasted a 51- point effort by James and let Game 1 slip away in overtime, and after allowing Stephen Curry’s three- point barrage in Game 2, the Cavs are faced with the reality that their season, strange as it has been to this point, is in serious jeopardy.
But coach Tyronn Lue, who plans to give disappointing forward Rodney Hood playing time Wednesday night, thinks his team can change the complexion of the 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. We believe.”
It’s easy to understand Lue’s confidence. After what the Cavs have experienced this season, a 2- 0 deficit in the Finals against a star studded Warriors squad on the cusp of being stamped as a modern- day dynasty seemsmanageable.
Cleveland has endured injuries, trades and drama for months. The Cavs, who climbed from a 2- 0 hole to beat the Celtics in the conference finals, have major roster holes and unfixable flaws. But there’s no denying their toughness.
“We’ve been very persistent and very resilient throughout this whole season,” James said. “We have an opportunity to come home and protect home, as Golden State has done. It’s a very tall task.”
Teams that have taken a 2- 0 lead are 29- 4 in the Finals, but the Warriors know better than to be overconfident. Golden State held a 3- 1 lead in the 2016 Finals before the Cavs rallied to win three in a row and dethrone the Warriors. And last year, the Warriors trailed by six with 3: 09 left before storming back to win 118- 113 in Game 3.
Cleveland has won eight consecutive playoff games at Quicken Loans Arena, which may be louder than ever with hometown fans still frothing from some calls that went against the Cavaliers last week.
Just the sight of Warriors forward Draymond Green should be enough to push the decibel readings inside the building to unsafe levels.
And theWarriors could have Andre Iguodala back for the first time in the series.
“He’s getting closer, and I’m hopeful that he can play,” coach Steve Kerr said. “If not tomorrow, then in Game 4.”
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?”