LeBron's teammates already thrown under the bus despite Game 2 win
Remember when fans derisively called the Chicago Bulls the “Jordanaires?”
Well, if the Cleveland Cavaliers are to hold off the Indiana Pacers in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, they’d better not turn into the “LeBronaires.”
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue made that point clear after his team came away with a hard-fought 100-97 win in Game 2 to even the series.
“I need to see more out of a lot of guys,” Lue declared at his post-game news conference, according to ESPN.
After a flat performance in Game 1 on Sunday, Lue mixed up his lineup, starting J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver instead of Jeff Green and Rodney Hood.
Afterward, LeBron James, who is far and away his team’s best player, indicated it was like putting on an old pair of sneakers.
“I think it’s just familiarity with that lineup to start tonight,” James said. “I mean, you got four guys that’s played in postseason games (together) before … so that definitely helps from that standpoint. It allowed (Green) and Rodney (Hood) to kind of get in and get settled into the game before their number was called, so I think it worked well for us tonight.”
Korver (12 points) and Smith (five points) didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard, but their presence gave James the space he needed to erupt for 46 points, including 20 in the first quarter.
Even with the big win — and another all-time performance from his teammate — Smith didn’t sound all that thrilled.
“I was kind of p—-d that I only had (five) shots, honestly,” Smith said. “But fortunately it worked out. My effort on offense, it’ll come. But my defense, this team needs my defense more than anything. But I’ll take the win more than anything. The postseason is about getting one win at a time, and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Cleveland may need more contributions from the bench in Game 3, as Kevin Love left in the fourth quarter Wednesday night with a thumb injury.
That may allow former starter Tristan Thompson to emerge from the Cavaliers’ bench, where he spent all of Game 2.
Aside from James, Love and Korver, no Cavalier scored in double figures Wednesday night.
If that happens again Friday night in Indiana, James will have to summon another superhuman effort for Cleveland to have a chance.
We know The King is capable, but how many times can he rescue the rest of his squad?
We’re about to find out.
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