Through six Finals games, LeBron James has forcefully reminded the hoops universe that he is indeed the NBA’s greatest player, and with a chance to claim the first title in Cleveland Cavaliers history tonight in Oakland, James says that he’s not being weighed down by any additional pressure.
Heading into Game 7, the numbers in the series stack up quite favorably for LeBron over Curry. pic.twitter.com/8VTCft98rl
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 19, 2016
James and the Cavs are trying to become the only team in League history to win a championship after trailing the NBA Finals 3-1, and only the third squad ever to win a Game 7 on the road.
The last time he appeared in a decisive game in the Finals, on June 20, 2013, LeBron scored 37 points and pushed the Miami Heat past the San Antonio Spurs.
Per the NY Times:
“Listen,” James said, “at the end of the day, I go out every single night and give everything I’ve got to the game. The game has always given back to me. So I’m O.K. with whatever.”
James has been an indomitable force in the series. He leads all players in points (181), assists (51), steals (16) and blocked shots (13), and he is tied with his teammate Tristan Thompson for the most rebounds (68). James is shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. He has scored 41 points in each of the last two games, both wins for Cleveland.
There have been 18 Game 7s in the history of the N.B.A. finals, and the home team has won 15 of them. The last time a visiting team clinched a title in a Game 7 was in 1978, when the Washington Bullets defeated the Seattle SuperSonics, 105-99. The home team has won six straight Game 7s. […] “The word everyone likes to use in sports is ‘pressure,’” James said. “I don’t really get involved in it. But I guess in layman’s terms, it’s pressure. I think it’s an opportunity to do something special.”
