The Pelicans’ defense had it’s issues in the fourth quarter, at least with respect to LeBron James, but it was solid and confident for long stretches. The Cavs had * a href=”http://stats.nba.com/tracking/#!/player/drives/?CF=TEAM_ABBREVIATION*E*CLE&Season=2015-16&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&DateFrom=12%2F04%2F2015&DateTo=12%2F04%2F2015&sort=DRIVES&dir=1″ target=”_blank” *five drives from players not named “LeBron James” on Friday night, according to NBA.com’s player tracking data.
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In his 13-year career, it was the earliest in a season that James had sat out a game without an announced injury.
Lebron played 45 minutes in an overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night and didn’t arrive at their hotel until around 5 am game day. For the firs time, in what seems like forever, James isn’t the best player in the league and his team isn’t the favorite to win it all, as Yahoo sports writer Scott Davis correctly points out. “Again, last night was a particular situation, an overtime game, played 44 minutes, played his heart out, very, very short turnaround. When we’re solid, we do have so much talent that between the ears, if we’re just better, we’re going to be the better team on most nights”.
“It would have been the same (resting him even) if it were any other team in the National Basketball Association”.
“I wanted to be just like him, man”, James said. “We can’t have a great game like tonight and then come out Monday and play flat”.
The NBA recently named two coaches for “Coach of the Month”, while Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James shared his thoughts on Kobe Bryant’s latest retirement announcement.
John Wall had 17 points and nine assists for the Wizards, who had lost five of their previous six games.
Atlanta got off to a quick start and led by 19 points in the second quarter. Kevin Love averages 11.6 points while Timofey Mozgov averages 0.9 assists per game.
James and the Cavs might have made the NBA Finals, but it is hard to argue that any team is more balanced and tough than the Heat this season. “It’s a working process”.
I’ll save the rest a bit for the game recap coming up for a bit.
German forward Dirk Nowitzki had 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the loss.
It looked like the Nuggets were headed that way when they let Philadelphia shoot 60 percent from the field and 64.3 percent from three-point range on the way to a 59-52 halftime lead. The Heat shot 66 percent from the floor in the first half. The former New Orleans Hornet hit five three-pointers in the opening frame for 15 points.
“A good professional win”, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
When asked if he should have stepped up, Love responded in calm fashion, “I don’t know”. Too many drops in ability during the game and a difficulty to pick up the scoring, the pace and intensity after that. “He would even admit that this is the most committed and the best he has played defensively”. “We suffered from those two facts – LeBron didn’t play, and it was a tough, tough back-to-back”.
The Cavaliers rode J.R. Smith’s hot shooting start to a big first quarter.
“It would mean we’re on the right track and we’re going where we want to go”, Bosh said. The Cavs stormed back to take a late lead, with James scoring 21 of their last 24 points in regulation.
James responded by bullying his way to the hoop repeatedly in the fourth quarter for 23 points.
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James earlier revealed he was determined to play all 82 games this season.
