"I was uncomfortable and in a lot of pain but I did fine, I could make it through", he said.
He has the potential to single-handedly take over-and win-playoff games, as we saw in Game 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals previous year. What adjustments and philosophies to they have to adopt to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? A student of the game, he's old school with a fresh perspective.
What the Heat didn't understand at the time was the vetting process the Mavericks had gone through to get to The Finals. Lue would prefer less attention, but it comes with the territory as coach of the defending National Basketball Association champions.
Take a look back at the Heat-Sixers recap from the 2011 National Basketball Association playoffs. That is why the Warriors, in an effort to protect themselves in case Kerr had to miss any more time, hired Brown - an experienced coach who has been to the playoffs several times, including the 2007 Finals - to be Kerr's lead assistant.
Currently, his postseason stat line is 28.6 points, 43 percent from distance and 50 percent from the field. His players credit Lue's soothing, steady influence - on and off the floor - as almost as vital to their success as a clutch Kyrie Irving 3-pointer.
For starters, they have the "f-king playmaker" LeBron James demanded at point guard in Deron Williams.
"I feel good about our chances", he said. "It's one I haven't talked about much". Kawhi Leonard injured his ankle late in the game and the Dubs came back from behind to win.
"So it's the even-keel mentality about our coach and it definitely helps us as players when we're going out into a war". This finals matchup will serve as the rubber match between the two perennial powerhouses, as Golden State defeated Cleveland 4-2 to win the 2015 NBA Championship, and Cleveland returned the favor in 2016, upending the defending champs 4-3.
Pochettino: No Reason For Kane To Leave Spurs
Lukaku has scored 67 goals in 140 Everton games, but has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park this summer. Kane exploded onto the scene three seasons ago and despite his best efforts, was dubbed a "one season wonder".
Here are the best Steph Curry playoff highlights you'll see (until Thursday's NBA Finals tips off, that is). "[But] in thinking about that game, it's amusing because I know the concept of making the right play, making a simple play, understanding that there are deciding moments in games and the difference between winning a championship or not could be one of those plays".
Bizarrely, three successive losses befell on Golden State.
"Hell yeah", he said, his voice rising.
Playing with incredible dexterity, consistency, cohesion, underdog spirit but top-dog skillfulness, the Warriors became a favourite team to watch - supporter or not - and it was not hard to see why they became the team to hop onto for bandwagon supporters. "I think that goes with coaching staff, players, and everybody just has to get better to get back to this situation".
However, history also said no one comes back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals, which Cleveland did. The only game the Cavs lost was Game 3 at home vs. the Celtics when James had one of the worst outings of his career with 11 points. And like the Lakers, who had Shaq, the Cavs have James, who is the single most dominant player of his era. "Going high, going low". Those guys are going to challenge me. "So you're doing all that for no reason".
Lue is a stickler for detail, and he won't cut any corners preparing for another dance with the Warriors.
More importantly for the Cavs, though, was the fact that both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love also had outstanding series. Are you SURE they're not the favorites?
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