Fab February over for Cavaliers, who face tough March ahead

Associated Press — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 05:00:00 +0000

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James rarely gets caught off guard. But time flies when you’re having fun, and the year’s shortest month blew by for James and the Cavaliers.

”It’s over? February is over, huh?” James asked late Monday night. ”Yeah, that sucks. It’s been a great month for our team.”

After a jarring January during which the Cavs went 7-8 and James criticized the team’s roster for being ”top heavy” and challenged general manager David Griffin to find him some help, Cleveland returned to championship form in February.

The Cavs went 9-2, and with an offense that now includes sharpshooter Kyle Korver and will soon add three-time All-Star guard Deron Williams to strengthen the second unit, they averaged a franchise-record 117.4 points per game.

”We just played good basketball,” said James, who scored 24 in Monday’s win over Milwaukee after missing one game with strep throat. ”We got back to Cavalier basketball and to our DNA.”

Their genetic makeup has changed since the start of the season, and the Cavs may not be done mutating.

On Monday, Griffin completed his latest coup by signing Williams, who was waived by Dallas and came to Cleveland to chase a championship at the urging of Korver, his close friend and former Utah teammate.

And now that Williams (the team’s second ”D-Will” after forward Derrick Williams signed a second 10-day contract) is on board, he has brought Cleveland another big name by helping recruit center Andrew Bogut.

The 7-foot center chose Tuesday to join the Cavs, giving James another accomplished veteran to help make a run at a third straight NBA Finals.

Bogut’s agent, David Bauman of ISE, told The Associated Press that Bogut plans to sign with the Cavaliers as soon as he clears waivers. Bauman anticipates that Bogut will join the defending NBA champions by this weekend.

Williams and Bogut played together with the Mavericks.

Bogut’s addition gives Cleveland more frontcourt depth while Kevin Love recovers from knee surgery and he’s very familiar with the postseason after spending the past four seasons with Golden State.

As the Cavs wait for Bogut, Deron Williams appears to be a superb fit for Cleveland, whose biggest flaw has been a reliable backup point guard. The established veteran, who received a huge ovation when introduced to the fans on Monday, solves that and coach Tyronn Lue is eager to plug him in.

”We know he’s a great pick-and-roll player, so I can’t wait to get him acclimated to what we’re doing,” Lue said. ”I’m very excited. He’s excited. Any time you’re a very good player and you get a chance to get a new start on a great team, it’s something you look forward to.”

Over the past month, Cleveland’s offense has opened, becoming the Eastern equivalent to Golden State’s splash show out West.

While Cleveland couldn’t match what the Warriors did in signing superstar Kevin Durant with one move, Griffin has adeptly positioned the Cavs to defend their crown by trading for Korver, one of the league’s best career 3-point shooters, and signing the two Williamses without giving up much. The champs have a deeper bench than they did a year ago, and the changes have more than satisfied James, who is aiming for his seventh straight visit to the NBA Finals.

And perhaps a third straight matchup with Golden State.

But that’s still a ways off and the Cavs are about to prepare for the playoffs with a daunting schedule that begins Wednesday with a visit to Boston, which trails Cleveland by four games for the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ll play at Atlanta and Miami in back-to-back games this week, and there are road games at Houston, against the Los Angeles Clippers and in San Antonio – three of the current top five teams in the Western Conference.

”It’s the NBA, man,” Irving said of Cleveland’s upcoming gauntlet. ”You have to love every part. Twelve games, especially on the road, in hostile environments and you have to love it.”

Speaking of Love, he is expected to be back later in March and so is guard J.R. Smith, who has been sidelined since late December after thumb surgery.

The Cavs still aren’t whole, but they’re getting close. February helped fix them and James thinks March will be another strong test.

”It’s good,” he said. ”The main thing that I’ve said from the beginning is our process and our health. If we can get healthy at the right time, get some games under our belt, it’s going to help us in the postseason. But right now we’re in a good rhythm and we just want to continue that.”

—

AP Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski contributed to this story.

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LeBron James talking a good game, still playing a great 1

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 05:00:00 +0000

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Older, wiser and more aware of the world, LeBron James isn’t afraid of letting his views known on politics or social issues or even the business of basketball.

It wasn’t always that way.

But in his 14th season, with more NBA playing years in his rear-view mirror than left in front of him, James doesn’t see much reason to stay silent these days. His voice is louder than ever when he deems it appropriate while his numbers remain as good as ever. It’s one of the reasons why he’ll again be the star attraction on Sunday night when he plays in the All-Star Game for the 13th time.

”I’ve been vocal about a lot,” James said Saturday. ”That’s who I am. I’m a vocal guy. I’ve been vocal about a lot of things this year.”

Whether it was his stance on the presidential election where he supported Hillary Clinton, expressing his displeasure about Phil Jackson’s characterization of the people closest to him, speaking directly to fans through video messages or even saying his Cleveland Cavaliers need another playmaker to help with their NBA title defense, James has been taking full advantage of his massive platform .

This weekend, though, he is trying to take a break from any negativity and enjoy the moment.

”Truly blessed,” James said. ”This is a special time for me.”

He’s not alone in that sort of thinking. For all the subplots – the Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook drama, Kyrie Irving’s claim that the Earth is flat and Carmelo Anthony’s All-Star nod after some trying times in New York – none of the 24 players who’ll be on the floor Sunday night will likely be thinking about anything besides putting on a show.

James’ two sons are hoping for a show, too. Not from their dad, so much – but rather from their favorites like Westbrook and Stephen Curry.

”LeBron Jr. wore 0 for the longest time because he loves Russ,” James said. ”Bryce wore 30 because he likes Steph and likes to shoot the ball from deep. I think that’s pretty cool.”

James’ arrival was the big news of All-Star Saturday, largely because he missed Friday’s events because of family obligations. Durant and Westbrook shared the floor for practice but had minimal interaction – not even looking at each other when they were maybe a foot apart in the back of the Superdome while trying to find their assigned spots for a media session.’

”This game, it’s for the fans,” said Westbrook, the two-time reigning All-Star MVP.

It always is, though this All-Star weekend has a younger feel.

Sunday’s will be the first All-Star Game since 2005 – James’ first All-Star – where no player in the game will be older than 32. Kobe Bryant was 37 when he made his All-Star farewell in Toronto last season, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was two months shy of turning 42 when he played in the game for the last time in 1989.

Anthony is the oldest All-Star, seven months older than James and eight months older than Marc Gasol. They’re all 32.

”It’s pretty weird to be the veterans now when we were the young guys a few years ago, but that’s just the way the league is going, man,” Durant said. ”Teams are drafting two or three 18-year-olds a year. … The league is getting younger and at some point we’re going to be the old guys passing the torch to the young guys.”

James is one of those old guys now.

But he’s not ready to pass any torch.

He’s shooting better this season, 54 percent, than he did in his first three MVP years. His 8.8 assists per game have him on pace for a career-best, his rebounding average is essentially the same as it was in all four MVP seasons and his scoring – 25.9 per game – is just a tick below what he did in those years where he was tabbed as the game’s best.

”I take pride in going out every night, and you knowing what you’re going to get from me every night,” James said. ”I work on my game. I work on my craft. And to know that my numbers are right up there with my MVP seasons, it just lets me know I’m consistent. You can always book me for whatever my numbers say. Sometimes they’re more. Not going to be less, not that many times.”

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LeBron James, Cavaliers hold off Suns 120-116

Associated Press — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

PHOENIX (AP) The Phoenix Suns, with one of the worst records in the West, threatened to make it an embarrassing night for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Until LeBron James set things straight.

James scored 12 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Cavs fought off Phoenix down the stretch for a 120-116 victory Sunday night.

”I am just confident in my ability,” James said. ”I work on my craft. I work on my shooting every day so it is always an option I could go to. I just try to mix it up, playing interior, playing transition, playing on the exterior and I was able to knock a couple of them down.”

Kyrie Irving added 27 points and Kevin Love 25 for the Cavaliers. They led by as many as 22 in the first half and 20 early in the third quarter.

”We play well, you play hard and get the lead and playing the right way then we just messed around,” Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said.

The Suns tied it late in the third and got within one in the fourth but never took the lead.

”We made enough plays down the stretch to win,” James said. ”We played good ball except for the third quarter. We allowed them to get out in transition and them being young and athletic they took advantage of it.”

Eric Bledsoe scored 31 points and Devin Booker had 28 for the Suns.

James sank consecutive 3-pointers, his only 3s of the game, to give Cleveland a 115-109 lead with 2:46 to play and scored on a driving layup with 44 seconds left to make it 120-114.

”That’s what makes him one of the greatest,” Booker said. ”We knew down the stretch he wants the ball in his hands and he wants to make the play and he did that. He hit two tough shots, 3s in transition.”

The young Suns turned aggressive and got their running game going to outscore Cleveland 25-7 in one stretch of the third quarter. Tyson Chandler’s inside basket cut the Cav’ lead to 84-82 with 3:31 left in the period.

Phoenix tied it twice before the quarter ended, the last at 90 when Booker banked in an 8-footer with 11.2 seconds left, but Irving sank a 3 at the buzzer and Cleveland led entering the fourth 93-90.

The Sun got within one three times early in the final quarter, the last at 98-97 on Booker’s left-handed drive with 9:37 left. After Phoenix rookie Dragan Bender missed a 3, Irving sank one, then added an acrobatic driving layup to put the Cavaliers up 104-98 with 7:38 left.

The Suns still were down only 109-107 after Marquese Chriss made one of two free throws with 4:28 to play but James sank his first three to boost it to 112-107. Bledsoe’s layup cut it to 112-109, and James sank his second 3 to make it a six-point game. Phoenix never got closer than four after that.

”I’m mad we lost but at the same time this is one of those games that was I guess a good loss,” Bledsoe said. ”We competed with one of the top teams in the league. To be down like that and come back says a lot. We’ve just got to start playing like this night in and night out.”

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LeBron, Irving and Love all questionable as Cavs face Bulls

Associated Press — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James stayed home from shootaround and is one of three Cleveland stars questionable for Wednesday night’s game against Chicago.

James has been fighting a cold but played Monday night in a win over New Orleans. The team advised him to skip the morning workout to get some extra rest.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are also questionable to face the Bulls. Irving has missed the past two games with a hamstring issue, and Love continues to recover from food poisoning. Coach Tyronn Lue said Monday that Love lost 10 pounds while he was sick.

The Cavs have won 13 straight games with James in the lineup. After facing Chicago, the defending NBA champions will leave for a six-game road trip, which will conclude with a Jan. 16 matchup at Golden State.

Chicago’s Dwyane Wade is a game-time decision with a swollen left knee. He missed Monday’s game against Charlotte.

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LeBron playing, Irving and Love out as Cavs face Bulls

Associated Press — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James is the only one of Cleveland’s three big stars playing Wednesday night against Chicago.

James, who has been battling a cold and flu bug that has been working its way through Cleveland’s locker room, was questionable until 20 minutes before tip-off when the team announced he will start. James skipped the team’s morning shootaround to get extra rest.

While James is going, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will not.

Irving will miss his third straight game with a hamstring issue, and Love is still recovering from a nasty case of food poisoning. Lue said Love lost 10 pounds while he was sick, but he played Monday against New Orleans and scored 12 points with 11 rebounds in 24 minutes.

According to the Cavs, Love got sick after eating some sea bass on the team plane.

Lue said the team is doing all it can to battle through the sickness.

”It’s part of the season, part of the year, it happens on all teams and when it’s going around you just try to be as cautious as possible,” Lue said. ”When guys are sick, you keep them away and try to keep them at home as long as possible. It’s something that’s going around. Channing (Frye) is really sick. Kevin’s sick. Now LeBron’s sick. Hopefully it doesn’t continue to spread.”

Frye is starting for Love and Jordan McRae will make his third start in Irving’s spot.

Chicago’s Dwyane Wade is also playing after missing Monday’s game against Charlotte with a swollen left knee.

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LeBron James sports safety pin on Sports Illustrated cover

Associated Press — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

If you take a close look at LeBron James’ recent cover photo for Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year award, a safety pin can be spotted on the NBA superstar’s lapel.No, James isn’t suffering some sort of wardrobe malfunction. Since last month’s presidential election, the safety pin has become a symbol of solidarity with those Americans who fear they’ll be disenfranchised by a Donald Trump presidency. The pin is intended to show that the wearer is a safe person to turn to.

James campaigned for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the days before the vote. During a recent road trip, James opted to stay elsewhere than the team’s official Trump-branded hotel in New York. He called the decision a personal preference.

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James makes good on bet with Wade, shows up in Cubs uniform

Associated Press — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

CHICAGO (AP) LeBron James dressed like a champion – a World Series champion.

James made good on a bet with close friend Dwyane Wade and showed up wearing a Chicago Cubs uniform before Friday night’s game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls.

James made a friendly wager on the World Series between the Cleveland Indians and Cubs with his former Miami teammate Wade, a Chicago product who signed with his hometown team in the summer. The Cubs rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win their first championship since 1908.

It was quite a sight seeing James in a Cubs uniform on Friday. He wore a No. 23 Cubs jersey with ”James” stitched across the back, a Cubs hat partially covered by a Cubbie-blue hoodie, pinstripe pants and long baseball socks. James’ uniform even had the 2016 World Series champions shoulder patch.

Wade was waiting for James when he arrived at the arena and took a picture of his former teammate. The two played four seasons together in Miami, leading the Heat to two championships and four straight NBA Finals appearances.

James led the Cavaliers to the title in June, ending Cleveland’s 52-year championship drought.

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LeBron to wear Cubs uniform after losing Series bet to Wade

Associated Press — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James will be Mr. Cub for a little while.

To pay off a bet on the World Series he lost to close friend Dwyane Wade, James will wear a Cubs cap, jersey, pants and socks to Friday’s game in Chicago before the Cavaliers play the Bulls.

James made a friendly wager on the Series between the Cleveland Indians and Cubs with Wade, his former Miami teammate and Chicago native who returned to play in his hometown this season. The Indians lost in seven games as the Cubs rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win their first championship since 1908.

”I’m not wearing cleats,” James said Thursday after the Cavs’ morning shoot-around. ”I got a basketball game to play. No glove. Just the uniform. I will be in uniform.”

And that will be quite a sight as the 6-foot-8, 250-pound James isn’t built like any baseball player.

”It’s a bet,” he said. ”You have to fulfill your bet. Nothing more to it.”

It’s a bit easier to make good on his bet since he led the Cavs to the NBA title in June, ending Cleveland’s 52-year championship drought.

James and Wade played together for four seasons in Miami, leading the Heat to two titles and four straight Finals appearances. James said it will be different to see Wade, who signed with Chicago as a free agent last summer, in another jersey.

”It’s going to be pretty cool, not only just because he’s in a different uniform but just him being back home and understanding what his journey is right now,” James said. ”I think it’s more than just basketball for himself, being back home in Chicago.”

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LeBron James chosen Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of Year

Associated Press — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) LeBron James delivered on a promise and ended decades of Cleveland sports misery in 2016.

For leading the Cavaliers to an NBA title and ending the city’s 52-year title drought, James was chosen Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year on Thursday, joining Tiger Woods as the award’s only two-time winners since its inception in 1954.

”I’m honored,” James said following shootaround before the Cavs hosted the Los Angeles Clippers. ”I’m more happy for my family, my kids, for my wife, my mom, and for my foundation, for the kids that I represent and the kids that use me as a role model and an inspiration.”

Appearing in his sixth straight NBA Finals in June, James rallied the Cavs from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the favored Golden State Warriors, who won 73 games during the regular season but couldn’t put Cleveland away. James scored 41 points in Games 5 and 6 and made a key block in the final minutes of an epic Game 7, making the Cavs the first Cleveland major sports franchise to win a title since the Browns in 1964.

James was selected finals MVP for the third time in his career.

The 31-year-old James returned to Cleveland as a free agent in 2014 and pledged to bring a title to his home state. He did it in his second season, an achievement that ranks as the greatest accomplishment of his career.

James had spurned Cleveland in 2010, leaving for Miami, where he and close friend Dwyane Wade led the Heat to two titles and four consecutive finals.

”It’s hard to remember a year with such a crowded field of Sportsperson candidates,” said Chris Stone, SI’s editor in chief. ”But in the end, LeBron James was the clear choice.”

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LeBron James, Cavs to visit White House on same day as Trump

Associated Press — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 05:00:00 +0000

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James and his Cavaliers teammates will be at the White House on Thursday.

An unexpected guest will be there, too.

The visit by the reigning NBA champions will coincide with President-elect Donald Trump’s meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss the handover of power and transition following a shocking election that left James – and millions of Americans – wondering about the future.

Gov. John Kasich, a onetime Republican presidential rival who refused to endorse Trump and boycotted the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, also was to visit the White House on Thursday.

James had supported Trump’s Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, appearing on stage with the former secretary of state at a campaign rally Sunday to urge Cleveland residents to vote.

On Wednesday, just hours after Clinton had conceded the election to Trump, James posted on his Instagram account that he woke up ”looking and searching for answers on what has happened.” He posted the audio to ”Alright,” a song by rapper Kendrick Lamar.

James wrote: ”Parents and leaders of our children please let them know they can still change the world for the better! Don’t lose a bit of faith! They’re our future and we must remain stronger than ever!! Yes we all wanna lace up the boots, put on the hard hats and strike but that’s not the answer. Love, genuine LOVE and FAITH will be the only thing that can get us through this.”

The Cavs’ trip to Washington has been planned for weeks. Coach Tyronn Lue, who received a phone call in June from Obama shortly after Cleveland rallied to beat Golden State in the NBA Finals, wanted the visit to happen before the first African-American president left office. Cleveland plays at Washington on Friday night.

James has openly expressed his views on numerous political issues in recent years. Following Trump’s election, the three-time champion and father of three said he felt the need to offer encouragement to minorities and women.

”Please know that this isn’t the end, it’s just a very challenging obstacle that we will overcome!!” he said. ”… To all the youth out there I PROMISE I’ll continue to lead u guys every single day without no hesitation!! Time to educate and even more mold my children into being the greatest model citizens they can become in life!”

James wasn’t the only Cavaliers player to express his feelings.

J.R. Smith, who also attended Clinton’s rally in Cleveland, posted a photo of his daughter standing outside the White House.

”How do I even feel confident sending her on play dates knowing the kids family voted for the racist, sexist person an I don’t know how they will treat her when she’s gone,” Smith said. ”How? Seriously How?”

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