LeBron James says he’s not mad at Cavaliers’ management

36-year old Richard Jefferson is playing 19.3 minutes a game – his most in three seasons. It’s me, (Irving), (Kevin Love). Nor is the team’s NBA-high $130 million payroll.

The main reason for the Spurs continued excellence is the emergence of Kawhi Leonard as a bonafide star in the league. It comes down to making shots at the end of the regulation.

“We wanted to make sure he’s here and make sure everybody can see him”, Lue said that night. Winning it is, and if there’s anything the last week underscored, it’s that they have a long, long way to go before they can even be mentioned in the same sentence as the best of the West.

James and Irving ran a pick-and-roll to switch Leonard off James, but James missed a 3-pointer in the corner to force overtime. Jones’ block on James with 2:45 remaining and the Cavs trailing by eight brought the crowd to its feet and dealt another reminder how out of rhythm this team is right now – and how reliant they are on James and Irving to carry them. The San Antonio Spurs have seven.

“I don’t know what we got to offer”, James said.

Their last real chance faded when James was stripped by Galloway while trying to dribble behind his back for his sixth turnover of the night.

In an interview last month on SiriusXM NBA Radio, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the practice of resting players has become a significant concern. “(Coach Tyronn Lue) T-Lue drew it up in the timeout and we as a group didn’t execute it the right way.

“We got to figure it out”, James said. Coming out of a timeout. “I just hope we’re not satisfied”. “We’ve been through battles in the Finals, and always when I’m playing somebody on a great team, it just pushes your energy and you’re just having the most fun at that time“.

Despite a 49-point performance from Kyrie Irving and a triple-double from James, the Cavaliers could not stop the Pelicans, ceding 69 combined points to Jrue Holiday and Terrence Jones. Scored at least 100 points for the 20th straight game.

The Cavs have hit a wall in recent games, losing five of their past seven National Basketball Association games since January 10, with those losses coming against the Utah Jazz, Portland Trailblazers, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans. They will survive just fine for now as is. “They’re good every year”.

Gasol, who will be out for an indefinite period after breaking his left hand in the layup line on Thursday, has fit in seamlessly offensively. The 7-footer got hurt during warmups on Thursday night, and his loss will not only test San Antonio’s depth but may force the Spurs to sign another big man.

Still, the team is in first place, heavily favored to return to the Finals and likely to send three players to the All-Star Game. At the midway point, the Spurs have a 32-9 record while continuing its staggering success on the road.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will have less than two days to recuperate from their latest setback, as they travel from home to New Orleans for a one-game away trip.