Far from tapped out
James, Cavaliers hurting, but they won’t be giving up
CLEVELAND — After LeBron James tied up the NBA Finals with another one of his virtuoso postseason performances, his legs were in knots.
He needed ice, treatment and rest. He wasn’t the only one.
After a pair of entertaining, exhausting, dramafilled overtime games at Golden State, everyone — players, fans, even the refs — needed a day to take a breather and recover before the Cavaliers and Warriors resume a series getting stellar TV ratings and shifting to Quicken Loans Arena for Game 3 on Tuesday night.
As midnight approached in California following the Cavs’ stunning 95-93 victory Sunday night, James, who scored 39 points with 16 rebounds and 11 assists, grimaced as he lifted himself from a chair on the postgame interview dais. He was hurting after playing 50 methodical minutes, one game after going 46
James, incredibly, believes he can give more.
“It’s a maximum of five games left in the NBA season,” he said. “So I’m ready for whatever.” He has been all season. With James leading the way, the Cavaliers, who were already a heavy underdog before losing All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to a broken left kneecap in the opener, dragged down the Warriors and Stephen Curry, the league’s MVP.
Hounded by Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova, who seemed to be inside his jersey, Curry missed 18 of 23 shots and ended his night with an uncharacteristic 3point air ball with four seconds left in overtime.
But while Dellavedova’s contributions starting in place of Irving were huge, James was again the reason the Cavs can’t be dismissed.
The best all-around player of his generation, James has pushed a team missing two All-Stars — Irving and Kevin Love — and a franchise that has its first Finals win, within three victories of an improbable title that would end Cleveland’s 51year major sports championship drought.
James hasn’t been flawless — far from it. He has twice missed potential game-winning shots in the final seconds, and he has made only 40 percent of his field-goal attempts.
However, he’s dictating the pace of the game, controlling the clock and slowing the run-and-gun Warriors.
He has also motivated his teammates — James dubbed them “The Grit Squad” — by telling them that they not only belong in this series, but they can win it.
The Cavs may be considered underdogs, but James is reminding them that this is their moment. And as he chases his third title, James has the Cavs savoring every step.
“We have a chance to be a part of history,” he said.