LeBron James is not tired. He says he’s not, at least, and he thinks the statistics back him up. James was asked about fatigue on Wednesday before Game 3 of the NBA Finals. It was a question he wasn’t exactly excited to answer.
In fact, he dismissed the idea that he’s tired outright.
“Do I look tired?” he asked the reporter, who said it’s something she’s had to talk about on the radio with others.
“I’m averaging a triple-double in the Finals,” James said. “I’m pretty good.”
LeBron James says guarding Kevin Durant doesn't take a toll
"Do I look tired? I'm averaging a triple-double in the Finals. I'm pretty good." pic.twitter.com/W6WKOU2Fes— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) June 7, 2017
He’s not wrong about the numbers, but there is definitely some concern that James isn’t able to get the rest his coaches would prefer he gets because of the situation. Rest games were such a big issue for the Cavaliers throughout the regular season, so with Cleveland down 2-0 and unable to match the Golden State offense thus far people are going to look for excuses for LeBron’s results.
But whoever is talking about James being tired is likely projecting anyway. Despite the two big losses, he’s playing well. Rather, watching the Finals play out it’s clear that James needs to be on the court for the Cavaliers to have any chance.
You could see glimpses of it when James sat the final minute of the third quarter in Sunday’s Game 2. Cleveland just couldn’t keep pace with Golden State when he was out of the game. It’s not that James actually is tired, but that if he becomes tired, the series is over.
It’s not that James is tired now, but that he might be in three or four games when the Cavaliers need him most. But that’s if they can get there, I suppose.
