Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors - Game 6 - 1st Qtr Highlights | May 27, 2016 | NBA Playoffs
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James amassed 33 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and one steal in leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 113-87 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The Cavs won the Eastern Conference final, 4-2.
The game was televised by ESPN.
King"s court: There was nothing complicated about what happened Friday night at Air Canada Centre. LeBron decided the series needed to end, so it ended.
Special accomplishment: The Cavs advanced to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season, each with LeBron at the controls.
Incredibly special accomplishment: LeBron"s teams have reached the NBA Finals in six consecutive seasons. He did so with the Miami Heat in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
ESPN reporter Doris Burke spoke with LeBron on the court after the game.
Burke: "You know how hard it is to go to one Finals, and everything that goes into it. You will go to your sixth straight. Of what are you most proud?""
LeBron: "I don"t know, Doris. I"ve heard all the questions, and that right there is a stumper.""
LeBron will be the eighth player in NBA history to appear in six consecutive Finals. The other seven are Celtics of the 1950s and 1960s.
(If Cavs reserve James Jones plays in the Finals, it will be his fifth straight. He was a member of the Heat in 2011 but did not play against Dallas.)
LeBron will play in his seventh Finals overall. His first was with the Cavs in 2007.
LeBron will join Dennis Rodman as the only players with at least three NBA Finals appearances for two franchises (Rodman: Detroit, Chicago).
Difficult to fathom: In order to get to six straight Finals, LeBron"s teams have needed to win 18 consecutive Eastern Conference series. Eighteen.
Let it marinate.
Difficult to fathom, Part II: On Friday, LeBron secured at least one road victory in 25 consecutive series -- the longest such streak in NBA history. He broke a tie with Michael Jordan.
In the past two postseasons, LeBron has clinched a total of five series on the road.
Numbers game: LeBron has scored 5,364 points in the playoffs. Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton scored 6,215 points in the regular season.
Locking it down: LeBron scored 30+ for the first time in 14 games this postseason and, according to Burke, the 81st time in his career.
Burke: "You said you would step forward and have a game when you needed to. Why was it tonight?""
As Burke asked the question, plenty of fans remaining in the arena chanted: "Let"s go, Rap-tors! Let"s go, Rap-tors!""
LeBron: "First of all ... do you hear this?""
Burke: "I know. They"re incredible.""
LeBron: "Unbelievable respect, much respect, to these fans and to this country. This is unbelievable. I"ve never been a part of something like this in my 13-year career. This is special. They really appreciate what their team did.
"To get back to your question, Doris: I knew this was going to be a tough game coming into this building, and I just had to bring my game. I had to be in attack mode from the beginning, trust my shot. And I knew once my shot started going that I could start getting my teammates involved, and they were able to carry me down the stretch.""
LeBron scored 21 in the first half, during which he played 23:23. He finished 13-of-22 from the field in 40:57.
Happy to help: Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving amassed 30 points, nine assists and three steals. Cavs big Kevin Love had 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
Irving"s long scoop-pass to Love for a transition 3-pointer was one of many highlights for Cleveland.
The Cavs are 6-0 in this postseason when LeBron, Irving and Love each score 20+.
Don"t forget about me: Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith was 5-of-9 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, for 15 points in 36 minutes. He posted a +22.
The Cavs shot 17-of-31 from beyond the arc; the Raptors, 8-of-25.
Droppin" dimes, droppin" dimes: When ESPN showed LeBron running into the locker room after the trophy presentation, on-site anchor John Buccigross said: "And you wonder why Kevin Love didn"t opt out and go somewhere else. This is why. Because when you hang around that dude, you get to the Finals. It helps your commercials, it helps your everything, because you"re always in the spotlight.""
More from Buccigross: "LeBron"s energy level is mesmerizing to watch. His fitness is off the charts. Like Michael when he played, he just does not get tired.""
Skip to my T-Lue: The Cavs" Tyronn Lue is 12-2 in his first postseason as an NBA head coach. He replaced David Blatt on Jan. 22 and went 27-14 in the regular season.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/05/lebron_james_greatness_on_disp.html
No comments:
Post a Comment