LeBron James Carrying Heat reminds me of Cavaliers

LeBron James Carrying Heat reminds me of Cavaliers

MIAMI — LeBron James broached the topic without being asked directly. But it had been on the minds of anyone watching the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers play in the Eastern Conference finals. James' one-man performance-art show recalled memories of his days with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when James often had to do so much in order to win playoff games because he was not surrounded with enough talent. "I kind of just went back to my Cleveland days at that point and just said, 'Hey, let's try to make more plays and be more of a scoring threat as well," James said after scorching the Pacers for 30 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block in Miami's 90-79 Game 5 victory Thursday. FIGHT: Series was angry before Birdman shove GUARDLESS: Pacers backcourt fails in Game 5 With forward Chris Bosh and guard Dwyane Wade struggling offensively for two main reasons — Indiana's defense and injuries — James is proving he can carry Miami with limited help from the other two-thirds of the Big 3. He delivered a sublime third-quarter effort — accounting for 25 of Miami's 30 points in the quarter with 16 points and four assists. He snatched four rebounds, too. Now, the Heat lead the Pacers 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, and Game 6 is Saturday in Indianapolis (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT). As good as Indiana has been, it faces a discouraging proposition: win consecutive games against a team that hasn't lost two in a row since January. When James wanted the ball, he got it. When Miami needed points, he got them. "Just try to figure out a way that I can, I don't know, just see if the guys would just follow me, and just lead them the best way I could," James said. "I was just in attack mode in the third quarter, look for my shot. And luckily I was able to make some. "I just saw how we were playing in the first half. ... We were in wait mode in the first half instead of going and getting it — just waiting for things to happen. I took it upon myself to stop waiting and just go. Just try to figure out a way to go and get it. I don't know. I just stepped outside the box a little bit." PHOTOS: LeBron James through the years LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career. LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career. Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen LeBron James. What's left to say? Four-time MVP. Champion. Gold medalist. Flip through this gallery for some of the most memorable images of King James' career. LeBron James scored Cleveland's final 25 points as the Cavaliers outlasted the Pistons 109-107 in double overtime of Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 on May 31, 2007. The Cavs overcame a 2-0 series deficit and won in six. In Cleveland, July 8, 2010, will forever be known for 'The Decision,' the day free agent LeBron James announced on ESPN that he was leaving the Cavaliers and taking his 'talents to South Beach' to join the Miami Heat. After finishing with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Game 5 of NBA Finals, LeBron James was not only able to hoist his first NBA championship trophy, he also was named MVP of the 2012 NBA Finals. LeBron and the Cavaliers were swept by the Spurs in the 2007 NBA Finals, James' first Finals appearance. Right after he won an NBA title with the Heat, LeBron James was able to drape himself in the American flag after the USA defeated Spain 107-100 in the men's basketball gold medal game at the London Olympics. South Beach hasn't always been fun and games for LeBron James. Here he walks off the court after Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks on June 12, 2011. The Mavericks won 105-95 to win the series. LeBron James' NBA destiny was confirmed June 26, 2003 when he was drafted No. 1 by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. On draft night, James wore white and shared a laugh with fellow lottery pick Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James finally got to celebrate his elusive NBA Finals championship in 2012 with the Miami Heat. Cavaliers fans in Cleveland, such as Josh Hall, left, Rob Hose, and Mike Adams reacted to LeBron James' announcement he was leaving the Cavs by setting fire to James' jerseys. Before he left for Miami, LeBron James (23), celebrating with teammate Sasha Pavlovic after hitting the game winning three pointer against the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, was perhaps the most popular athlete in Cleveland sports history. LeBron was ruled ineligible and the end of his senior year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, because he accepted free sports jerseys, bringing a sudden end to the basketball star's celebrated high school career. The final piece of hardware for King James' 'corination' as an NBA champion came opening night of the 2012-13 season when LeBron James and his Heat teammates were given their  championship rings during a ceremony before a game against the Celtics, on Oct. 30, 2012, in Miami. LeBron's jersey was retired at St. Vincent-St. Mary's at his final home game in 2003. Workmen remove a large mural of LeBron James from a building in downtown Cleveland on July 10, 2010 after James, who had played seven years for the Cavaliers, signed with the Miami Heat after becoming a free agent. Shaquille O'Neal, right, of the Miami Heat, and LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, dancing together during NBA All-Star basketball practice on Feb. 17, 2007 in Las Vegas. LeBron won the first of his three NBA MVP awards while with the Cavaliers in 2009. Here he poses with his mother Gloria during the award ceremony at his high school. Lebron and his St. Vincent - St. Mary's team frequently played on national television. LeBron's first sneaker, the Air Zoom Generation launched during his rookie year in 2003. Heat forward LeBron James (6) celebrates with teammate Dwyane Wade (3) after winning the NBA championship in Game 5 of the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106. LeBron's senior year in high school was marred by controversy, notably when his mother Gloria bought him a Hummer. Before the Big Three of Dwyane Wade, left, Chris Bosh, center, and LeBron James, right, had played a single minute together, the Miami Heat threw an elaborate celebration at Miami's American Airlines Arena on July 9, 2010. LeBron James lays the ball up past Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha during Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals. Miami won 104-98. Wearing glasses during postgame news conferences became the hip thing during the 2011-12 season, and LeBron James joined in the spectacle of spectacles. LeBron James and teammate Dwyane Wade are all smiles after their Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. The Miami Heat will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. LeBron James of the Miami Heat shows some emotion after knocking out the Boston Celtics in five games in the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals. It was during the event to introduce LeBron James, left, and Chris Bosh, right, as Dwyane Wade's newest teammates, that James made his infamous 'Not one, not two, not three ..." prediction about the number of championships the Heat's Big Three would win together. James' road to NBA stardom seemingly started while he was still in high school. As a standout for St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in Akron, Ohio, James quickly earned "next big thing" status with sports magazine covers and recognition on the USA TODAY All-USA boys basketball team for three consecutive years. LeBron James not only took his talents to South Beach, he also took his pregame powder there as well. LeBron James (23) won back-to-back MVP awards with the Cavaliers in 2008-09 and 2009-10, after Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant won it in 2007-08. Despite a stinging playoff defeat in the 2007-08 Eastern Conference finals by his Cavaliers against the Celtics, LeBron James experienced victory in a busier-than-usual offseason, helping Team USA go undefeated on the way to the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. With the Cavs becoming semi-regular participants in the postseason, James' face became a familiar one in sports marketing. Nike, which signed James to a huge endorsement deal just before he turned pro, ramped up its promotion of its young star, creating a multi-generational fictional family "The LeBrons" Next Slide Miami just might need more of that out-of-box play from James. Now, a tad surprisingly, there is some truth to the Cleveland comparison. During the regular season, James led the Heat in scoring at 26.8 points a game, but Wade wasn't far behind (21.2), and Bosh was his usual Miami self (16.6). But in the conference finals, James is scoring almost twice as much per game than Wade (28.4 vs. 15.4) and more than double Bosh (12.6). "The last two years, when they've gotten to the NBA Finals, there was a three-man consistency with Bosh, James and Wade. But that isn't the case anymore," TNT analyst Kenny Smith said. "Those guys (Bosh and Wade) don't take the challenge that they used to take. It might be because of injury or it might be because of matchups. Whatever it is, (James) is doing what he did in Cleveland, which is being a one-man wrecking crew on the offensive end." PUTBACKS: Pacers' odds on winning series are grim SCHEDULE: Eastern Conference finals times, TV info In the 2010 playoffs, James scored 29.7% of Cleveland's points in the playoffs, and he is at 24.7% for the playoffs and 26.7% in the conference finals this season. But this is not completely the Cavaliers' James. Truth is, he has more options around him this season, mainly because Bosh and Wade still are presences on the court, drawing attention from Indiana's defense. His supporting cast, especially with Mario Chalmers (12 points, six assists) and Udonis Haslem (16 points) playing the way they have in this series, is much better in Miami. "Well, we would love to be scoring," Wade told USA TODAY Sports late Thursday night. "That's what we've done all year. We put the ball in the basket. When we're not, it's a tougher game for us. We've had a few of those games in the playoffs. When that's not happening, we need timely buckets and we were able to have that tonight." PHOTOS: Ranking every player in Eastern Conference finals The Heat and Pacers met last season in the second round, but the stakes are bigger this year in the Eastern Conference finals. USA TODAY Sports ranks every player in the series. The Heat and Pacers met last season in the second round, but the stakes are bigger this year in the Eastern Conference finals. USA TODAY Sports ranks every player in the series. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen The Heat and Pacers met last season in the second round, but the stakes are bigger this year in the Eastern Conference finals. USA TODAY Sports ranks every player in the series. 1. LeBron James, Heat small forward 2. Dwyane Wade, Heat shooting guard 3. Chris Bosh, Heat center 4. Paul George, Pacers small forward 5. David West, Pacers power forward 6. Roy Hibbert, Pacers center 7. George Hill, Pacers point guard 8. Ray Allen, Heat guard 9. Lance Stephenson, Pacers shooting guard 10. Shane Battier, Heat forward 11. Mario Chalmers, Heat point guard 12. Norris Cole, Heat guard 13. Tyler Hansbrough, Pacers forward 14. Udonis Haslem, Heat power forward 15. D.J. Augustin, Pacers guard 16. Mike Miller, Heat forward 17. Chris Andersen, Heat center 18. Ian Mahinmi, Pacers center 19. Rashard Lewis, Heat forward 20. James Jones, Heat forward 21. Gerald Green, Pacers guard 22. Jeff Pendergraph, Pacers forward 23. Sam Young, Pacers forward 24. Joel Anthony, Heat center 25. Ben Hansbrough, Pacers guard 26. Orlando Johnson, Pacers guard Next Slide That's another truth. Miami didn't get a lot from Wade and Bosh in Game 5 but got enough. Wade, bothered by a bruised right knee, finished with 10 points and four came in the fourth quarter. Bosh, dealing with a bum right ankle, had five of his seven points in the second quarter. Furthermore, the Heat are content to win any way possible, as they have done in previous series, including last season. It doesn't always have to be with the Big 3 leading the way every game. It is part of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's "Whatever it takes" philosophy. When two of Big 3 aren't scoring, Miami has learned to win with and trust in other players. There is no panic in those situations. "You develop that over the course of a year," Wade told USA TODAY Sports late Thursday night. "Obviously, most nights the ball could be in the three our hands most of the time. The guys on our team just play an unbelievable role when they have their opportunities. Throughout the year, they've stepped up big time. "They stay confident, and it's not an easy thing to do. You can't be a championship-caliber team without the guys like that. UD (Haslem) stepped up big-time. We will need somebody else to do it in Game 6." PHOTO: D-Wade celebrates birthday with his son FINALS: Why you should never bet against Spurs Spoelstra sensed early in the series the Heat might need this kind of performance from James to beat the Pacers, and it's playing out that way. If James isn't as dominant, the Heat struggle. "You're at the point where you understand that if you don't play the game you need to that you can lose the ballgame and be in trouble," Wade said. "Nothing is guaranteed to you but your effort and energy can always be picked up." 

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