LeBron James delivered another one of those career-defining performances Friday night to push the Cleveland Cavaliers into Game 7 of NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals.
Can Stephen Curry and/or Kevin Durant do the same for the Golden State Warriors over in the Western Conference Saturday night?
They have a tough act to follow in this spectacular NBA Final Four.
Every time it appears the balanced, well-coached Boston Celtics would take control of their series, James has heroically carried the Cavaliers to glory.
With forward Kevin Love literally knocked out of Game 6 after playing just five minutes, James delivered an epic 46-point, 11-rebound, 9-assist performance in 46 memorable minutes.
“I have a drive. I have a love of the game. I have a passion for the game,” James said told reporters. “While I have the opportunity to lace my shoes up and put a uniform on, then I try to go out and do my job to the best of my ability.
“Does it always work out? Obviously, no. I’m not undefeated in my career. Does it always have me playing great? I haven’t always played great in my career. But I just always want to try to maximize when I’m on the floor, and I’ve been able to.”
He delivered his Game 6 star turn after nearly suffering an untimely leg injury. He managed to play on.
“I just felt someone fall into my leg, and my leg kind of went in,” James said. “I felt some pain throughout my entire right side of my ankle into my leg. I was just hoping for the best, obviously, because I’ve seen so many different injuries, and watching basketball with that type of injury, someone fall into one’s leg standing straight up. Luckily, I was able to finish the game.”
NO PAUL, BIG PROBLEM?
The Warriors have won two of the last three NBA titles. But their normally explosive offense has sputtered against the Houston Rockets.
They will try to even their series with the Rockets in Game 6 in Oakland. Not only will they have the home-court edge, but they will catch the Rockets without point guard Chris Paul — who is shelved by a hamstring strain.
Paul is averaging 19.8 points and 4.6 assists against the Warriors in this series.
“Obviously Chris has been playing extremely well,” Rockets star James Harden told reporters Friday “Hopefully a speedy recovery, which I know will happen. There’s an opportunity, like all year long, for guys to step up and take advantage of an unbelievable opportunity.”
Eric Gordon will run point in Paul’s place. Gordon averaged 21.5 points and 3.4 assists in 30 games while starting when Paul was injured during the NBA regular season.
“It’s obviously not something we wanted,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters Friday. “I hate it for him above all. He’s practically won us the past two games. But it’s a great opportunity for other guys, and we have plenty to choose from. We’ll be ready.”
CAN LEBRON DO IT ONE MORE TIME?
James has been nearly unstoppable in home playoff games, averaging 38 points, eight rebounds and and eight assists. He is shooting 59 percent from the field in Cleveland and 41 percent from 3-point range.
He is trying to will the Cavaliers to their second NBA title since his return to Cleveland. But Game 7 is in Boston Sunday night and the Celtics won’t go quietly. Adding to Cleveland’s concern is Love’s iffy status.
“It’s about just winning the game now,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart told reporters after Game 6. “It’s not going to be pretty. You got to be able to get down and get dirty. You can’t go out and try to look pretty. You have to be ready for a dogfight.
“We got to be ready to come up with our nose bloodied, we got to be ready to come out with our mouth bloodied, we have to come out ready to fight.”
