How LeBron James has embraced a 'totally different challenge' perfectly
CLEVELAND — LeBron James looked like he could barely keep his eyes open during Wednesday's availability with reporters.
He's pushing himself to the limit – perhaps beyond – in pursuit of what would be his most impressive, endearing and memorable accomplishment.
"Obviously I'm not getting much sleep," James said. "You guys can see I'm not getting much sleep right now, but I'm OK with that. I'm OK with not sleeping to be able to prepare myself and mentally keep myself intact on what's the main objective for me right now, and that is to make sure that my guys are laser sharp, get myself mentally prepared, physically prepared to go out and battle."
After carrying the Cavaliers with 40 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in the Cavs' 96-91 win against the Golden State Warriors in Game 3, James has the Cavaliers two wins from what would be an improbable championship, playing without injured stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
No one gave the Cavaliers a chance to win this series after Irving sustained a fractured left knee cap in Game 1 and yet James' historic performances have turned the Finals into compelling theater.
The Finals have produced record ratings for the ABC network, and those ratings aren't expected to decline as the series progresses because so many people want the answer to these questions:
Can James really lead this ragtag collection of castoffs, an undrafted free agent, aging veterans and an offensively-limited lottery pick to an NBA championship? Can he bring the city its first title in a major pro sports league since 1964? Can he send northeast Ohio into a wild celebration?
"I don't really know what's going on. I know we're up 2‑1," James said. "I know our team is fighting for our lives. We're undermanned. We're undermatched, and we're fighting. That's all I know."
He knows a little more than that. But he's just not letting outsiders in. He won't reveal the source of the mystery motivation – unknown to even his teammates – that is helping drive him.
It's become a bit of a joke inside Cleveland's locker room, a fine way to keep the mood light and fear-free when his teammates keep asking him on a loop, "Is it me? Am I your secret motivation? It's me, isn't it?"
Cavs guard J.R. Smith doesn't know the motivation but has an appreciation for James' approach to the game.
"I've never seen somebody so determined and driven to be the best player that they can possibly be, on any standard, on any level," Smith told Paste BN Sports. "The way he rehabs, the way he practices, the way he gets extra work in, he's so determined to be the player that he is and he's becoming now that it's fun to watch."
Whatever the source of the motivation, James is delivering. He has more points (123) than any other player through three games of the NBA Finals (41 points per game average). He's averaging 29.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists, joining Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in 1963 as the only other player to average at least those stats in the playoffs.
What's unusual about James' stats is that he has sacrificed efficiency – high shooting percentage, low turnovers, high points per possession – for volume shooting.
James laments this. Before this season, James had attempted 30 or more shots in a playoff game four times, according to basketball-reference. He's reached at least 30 attempts five times this postseason, including all three games against the Warriors.
"I'm not OK with it, but I'm so outside the box right now," James said. "I went seven straight seasons with improving my efficiency. Seven straight into this year, the previous seven seasons, seven straight seasons with improving my efficiency as far as shooting.
"But this is a different challenge. This is a totally different challenge. I've never played where two All‑Stars were out."
During the Chicago series in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he discovered more shots were necessary without Love and Irving. He needed to compensate for the missing scoring. He needed to make up for the loss of Love's rebounds and the loss of Irving's assists.
Through points and assists, he has had his hand in 200 of Cleveland's 291 points in the Finals, a stunning 68.7% of Cleveland's offense, according to Synergy Sports.
"I'm just trying to do whatever it takes to help," James said. "I know you guys keep hearing me elaborate on whatever it takes, but that's what I'm trying to do. I'm high-volume shooting, but it's not like I'm going out there and I'm high-volume shooting and I'm not doing anything else. I'm doing everything for our team to help our team win, and that's all that matters."
James left the arena early Wednesday morning with his wife, Savannah, drove home and watched Chopped and Teen Titans. He's exhausted, playing 142 out of a possible 154 minutes against Golden State, but knows there are no more than four games left in the season.
"You say how much it's taken out of me. I want it to take it all," James said. "Then after the game I'm able to kind of decompress for a little bit. It's been a difficult challenge, a tough challenge, but I knew that. Being the sole leader of a team and a franchise, it's taxing. But I accept the challenge. I accept it all, and I'm OK with it."
