LeBron James Says He Prefers Road Games over Home Games in Playoffs

Cleveland lost its first two games in Toronto during the conference finals last season before closing the series out in Game 6 on the road.

Standing in the Cavaliers’ way is a Raptors team that has the pieces to win the series but will similarly need to take the next step in order to get past the East’s top dogs. “And those who have known him for so long, have learned never to say never when it comes to LeBron James“.

The problem with the Cavaliers sweeping the Pacers in the first round (if you can find a problem, that is) is that we only have four games worth of data to evaluate. If I were coaching the team (and Toronto thanks God that I am not, ) I’d roll with Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, P.J. Tucker, Patrick Patterson and Serge Ibaka.

These Raptors don’t want that to happen again.

“LeBron makes the whole team better, ” said Tucker. “The guys are going to compete”.

You’re probably thinking, what about those Warriors from past year, the team that got even better this offseason?

After pushing through a grueling and dramatic seven-game series previous year to win the National Basketball Association title over the Golden State Warriors, the Cavs are working even harder as they face a potential third consecutive championship battle against Steph Curry and company. “One of these days … one of these days”. “I don’t understand why people make a big deal out of his minutes”, Lue said. Manu Ginobili turned back the clock with 10 points in Game 5 while point guard Tony Parker averaged 16.3 points in the series and exploded for 27 in the Game 6 clincher. It makes more sense to close out the series and have the additional rest versus playing potentially, even more, minutes, potentially 96-144 more minutes. “Us against the whole city, wherever we’re playing”, Lue said. “We needed him. We’re happy we got him”. If I’m out on the floor and I’m hurting us by playing a lot of minutes, then I need to come out. The Cavaliers then beat the Raptors three more times in the first six weeks of this season before Toronto won on the final night with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love all sitting out.

Now, the Cleveland coach insists, James can handle the heavy minutes when it matters most.

The three-time champion revels in the discomfort of being booed and hated. “Our fans are great”. “I think for the most part, when he’s aggressive and he’s trying to score the ball and he’s going, I don’t think it matters (what I do)”.

Being from New England, particularly the Boston area, I would love to pick the Celtics to be the winners of the Eastern Conference NBA Finals.

Or in this case, all of Canada.

James’ life-time contract he signed with Nike in May of 2016, which is reportedly worth in the ballpark of $1 billion, alone is enough to live more than comfortably for the rest of his life.

FREE-THROW WOES: After making a career-low 67 percent of his free throws in the regular season, James went only 22 of 38 (58 percent) from the line in the opening round. Every extra shot puts more pressure on Toronto’s defence. “They are not exhausted”, Toronto’s Patrick Patterson said. And I just don’t see them being any more than a team that gets knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

“Doesn’t mean I’m going to be able to win a road game in this series”, James said. “I really think they’re a very capable defensive team.”.

ON THE MOVE: James has been climbing various lists all season and he’s still rising. The Cavs beat the Raptors 3-1 in their regular-season series but only one of those games featured Ibaka. Once he passes Mr. Sky Hook, next on the list is His Airness, Michael Jordan (5,987).

DeRozan, who averaged just 1.7 3-point attempts a game and shot.266 from behind the arc, connected at an.842 clip at the line.

The Cavs swept the Indiana Pacers, and LeBron James became the first player to average at least 30 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks in a playoff series. Unfortunately, due to injuries he has only played two games thus far in the playoffs. The Cavs host Games 1 and 2 of the set on Monday and Wednesday, with Game 3 in Toronto on Friday.