LeBron James wants Cavs' games off national TV
LeBron James said Saturday night that he's "at a loss for words" to explain the Cleveland Cavaliers' woes in nationally-televised games this season.
"They should take us off every nationally televised game for the rest of the season," James told reporters after Cleveland's 120-88 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. "We haven't played good ball and we get our butts kicked every time we play on national television, so I'm at a loss for words."
The Cavaliers have lost their past eight nationally-televised games this season by an average of 17 points. The stretch has included a pair of losses by 30 points or more, and a 24-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in which the Cavaliers gave up a whopping 148 points.
Their only nationally-televised win this year was their season-opener against Boston, which was televised on TNT.
James scored just 11 points on 3-for-10 shooting Saturday night.
Coach Ty Lue told reporters that he believes the Cavaliers, who are 30-21, are still the best team in the Eastern Conference but they need to play "tougher."
"I think our mindset has to change, what we're really playing for," Lue told reporters. "Are we playing to win or are we playing to look good? We have to be tougher. It's tough for me because that's how I got here. But we just have to be tougher mentally and physically. I think when things get tough we have to be tougher."
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