NOT THE TIME TO REST
James’ lone concern is keeping Cavaliers focused
LeBron James looked like he could barely keep his eyes open during Wednesday’s availability with reporters.
He’s pushing himself to the limit — perhaps beyond — in pursuit of what would be his most impressive, endearing and memorable accomplishment.
“Obviously, I’m not getting much sleep,” James said. “You guys can see I’m not getting much sleep right now, but I’m OK with that. I’m OK with not sleeping to be able to prepare myself and mentally keep myself intact on what’s the main objective for me right now, and that is to make sure that my guys are laser sharp, get myself mentally prepared, physically prepared to go out and battle.”
After carrying the Cleveland Cavaliers with 40 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in the Cavs’ 96-91 win against the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, James has the Cavaliers two wins from what would be an improbable championship, playing without injured stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
No one gave the Cavaliers a chance to win this series after Irving suffered a fractured left kneecap in Game 1, and yet James’ historic performances have turned the Finals into compelling theater.
The Finals have produced record ratings for the ABC network, and those ratings aren’t expected to decline as the series progresses because so many people want the answer to these questions:
Can James really lead this ragtag collection of castoffs, an undrafted free agent, aging veterans and an offensively limited lottery pick to an NBA championship? Can he bring the city its first title in a major pro sports league since 1964? Can he send northeast Ohio into a wild celebration?
“I’ve never seen somebody so
determined and driven to be the best player that they can possibly be, on any standard, on any level,” Cavs guard J.R. Smith told USA TODAY Sports. “The way he rehabs, the way he practices, the way he gets extra work in, he’s so determined to be the player that he is and he’s becoming now that it’s fun to watch.”
James has more points (123) than any other player through three games of the NBA Finals. He’s averaging 29.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists, joining Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in 1963 as the only other player to average at least those stats in the playoffs. What’s unusual about James’ stats is that he has sacrificed efficiency — high shooting percentage, low turnovers, high points per possession — for volume shooting.
James laments this. Before this season, James had attempted 30 or more shots in a playoff game four times, according to Basketball-reference. He has reached at least 30 attempts five times this postseason, including all three games against the Warriors.
Against the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he discovered he needed to compensate for Love’s and Ir- ving ’s absence. Through points and assists, he has had his hand in 200 of Cleveland’s 291 points in the Finals, a stunning 68.7% of Cleveland’s offense, according to Synergy Sports.
“I know you guys keep hearing me elaborate on whatever it takes, but that’s what I’m trying to do,” he said. “I’m high-volume shooting, but it’s not like I’m going out there and I’m high-volume shooting and I’m not doing anything else. I’m doing everything for our team to help our team win, and that’s all that matters.”
James left the arena early Wednesday morning with his wife, Savannah, drove home and watched Chopped and Teen Ti
tans. He’s exhausted, playing 142 out of a possible 154 minutes against Golden State, but he knows there are no more than four games left in the season.
“You say how much it’s taken out of me. I want it to take it all,” James said. “Then after the game I’m able to kind of decompress for a little bit. It’s been a difficult challenge, a tough challenge, but I knew that. Being the sole leader of a team and a franchise, it’s taxing. But I accept the challenge. I accept it all, and I’m OK with it.”