"That's what I was trying to do tonight", said James who won his 20th consecutive first round postseason game.
Cleveland is two wins away from advancing to the conference semifinals, thanks to another hair-raising finish in which the Cavs overcame their overconfidence demons to send the Pacers back home again to in, down 2-0 in the series, thanks to the Cavs' 117-111 defense-optional victory.
The Cavs had a double-digit lead against the Pacers before grinding out the win, but James says the team are close to pulling everything together. We held Paul George to four points in that third quarter where our defense was really good. "And I think we're right there on the cusp of doing that".
"He should want the shot", Miles said. The Spurs nearly blew a 26-point lead, but they were able to fend off the run by the Grizzlies that involved several shady calls by the officials.
In the end, the Cavaliers picked up the intensity when it mattered most and James, a three-times National Basketball Association champion and four-times league Most Valuable Player, is choosing to stay focused on the positives rather fret about almost blowing another lead. It's playoffs, guys are playing a lot of minutes and they're competing. I know (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has) got pedigree and I'm a young rookie, but they are not going to rook us.
He still averaged 19.0 points and 11 rebounds in 31.4 minutes during the regular season. Irving took a pass at the elbow from Kevin Love before dribbling toward the hoop. Defensively, we just didn't play that right. The problem here would be that Lue rode James and Irving so hard during the regular season, but there's nothing anyone can do about that now.
Finally, the Pacers were going to take down the mighty Cavs. IN shot 51.2 percent on Monday.
"It was a very poorly officiated basketball game", he fumed.
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He said: "I will rotate players again, give rest to some players again and let's see what we can do". So far I played with one leg so it shouldn't be any problem. "If it was me, I'd step up to play".
On Monday night, Shumpert got a reprieve and made the most of it. James was responsible for eight. "We understand that, but we've got to be smart also".
After the game, a 117-111 Cavs win, Smith said he did not require an MRI and he hopes to play in Game 3. It's a better game for us.
That's more like it for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lebron James just missed having a triple double for the Cavaliers as he had 25 points, 1o rebounds, and seven assists.
But as they seemingly took their foot off the gas they allowed IN, who saw point guard Jeff Teague injure his wrist IN the second half, to creep back into it.
When things start to loosen for Cleveland's spot-up shooters, and the Big 3 continues to roll, that's when the Cavs will have arrived at what they can become.
Paul George was terrific once again for the Pacers, leading his team with 32 point, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
The playoff series will stay in Indy for Game 4, which is scheduled for Sunday, April 23.
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