LeBron says he Saves his Energy for Later in Games

Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers look to sweep the NBA Eastern Conference top seeded Toronto Raptors and advance to the conference finals for the fourth straight year.

Clarkson still ended up making the basket but for DeRozan it was the end of his match as officials gave the Raptors star his marching orders for the flagrant foul.

The Raptors are going to need a much better effort from DeRozan in Game 4 if they want to stay alive in this series and have a shot at making history – similar to that of a former Cavs squad. Ejected-DeRozan. A-20,562 (20,562). Boston is now up 3-1 over Philadelphia.

Not only are the Raptors demoralized; a 0-3 deficit is simply too formidable for any team-Toronto included-to overhaul. But once again, they’re controlling the Raptors who know beating James four times in five games will take everything they have.

For James, the 35-point win was the largest series-clinching performance in his illustrious career.

After having his most efficient regular season since joining the Cavs, averaging 17.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range1in 28 minutes a night (58 games) during the regular season, the power forward-turned-center was somewhat nonexistent in the first eight games of the playoffs.

LeBron James won Game 3 with a buzzer-beater, to put Cleveland one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals.

James was the only starter to see action, playing 4:22. The Raptors did still cover the +4 last game and now bettors have an additional point to work with.

STAT QUIRK: Philadelphia set an National Basketball Association record with a 16-game winning streak to end the regular season.

For the first time since they got on the NBA treadmill at the beginning of training camp in late September, LeBron James and his tired teammates can kick up their feet – or stick them in ice buckets, because that’s what basketball players do after a hard night – and relax before the Eastern conference finals begin on May 13 at the earliest.

The Cavs blew their first crack at a closeout game these playoffs in Game 6 of the first round against the Indiana Pacers, getting embarrassed by 34 points at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

National Basketball Association teams staring into the 0-3 abyss have never been saved: 129 have tried, 129 have failed. His teams have always been ones that thrive off of – and even embrace – adversity, a trait that trickles down from their leader. I’m like, ‘When would you shoot a shot like that?’ Apparently to win a playoff game.

What was the degree of difficulty of the shot, James was asked afterwards? “We had a lot of challenges before the series knowing the domination they had in the regular season”. The call led to DeMar DeRozan, coach Dwane Casey and his assistants screaming at the officials, and Ujiri also joined in.

James has been reluctant to discuss the Cavs’ chances to win a title or get back to the Finals for the fourth straight year, but his confidence has grown with each victory.