LeBron James Comments on Game 3 of 2016 NBA Finals vs. Warriors

With his Cleveland Cavaliers down 2-0 to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, LeBron James stressed just how important Wednesday night's Game 3 will be when he spoke with the media on Tuesday, per ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin:  

"

Obviously, it's a do-or-die game for us. We can't afford to go down 3-0 to any team, especially a team that's 73-9 in the regular season and playing the type of basketball they're playing. So it's a do-or-die game for us, and we understand that.

So we're going to come in and give everything that we've got and leave it on the floor.

"

The first two games haven't provided much in terms of a competitive matchup. Golden State won Game 1 by 15 and followed that up with a 110-77 blowout victory in Game 2. 

A huge loss, which could be a demoralizing one, is bad enough. But it could be worse if forward Kevin Love, whose status is uncertain, is unable to go on Wednesday after receiving an inadvertent elbow to the head from Harrison Barnes.

However, a source close to Love told McMenamin that he is "optimistic" about playing in Game 3. 

For James, though, there are no excuses for Cleveland if Love is unable to go:

"

It's going to be the next man up. We're down 0-2, and we can't afford to look and say, "Wow, Kev's not playing. What are we going to do?" It's next man up, because it's a must-win for us. Obviously his health is very important, but in the situation we're in now, we've got to stay confident. And whoever Coach decides to give the nod to got to be ready to go, and everybody else has to step up.

"

A return home to Quicken Loans Arena could be just what the doctor ordered for James and the Cavaliers, considering they haven't lost there in seven games this postseason. 

It's something James is counting on: "But coming back home and understanding this is our home floor and we've played some really good basketball, we can't afford to go down 3-0, especially against this team."

The Cavaliers, though, will have to try to find a way to stop an overwhelming Warriors offense that is getting production from all corners of the roster, not just MVP Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. In Game 1, it was Shaun Livingston's unstoppable mid-range 20-point game that stole the show, while Draymond Green poured in 28 in Game 2.

If that means the Cavs need to outscore Golden State, then James will need to step up his game in a series where he's averaged 21 points per contest and committed a combined 11 turnovers.

While it's unfair to put the pressure squarely on his shoulders, James is still one of the most elite players in the league and will have to spark the Cavaliers in order to get them back in this series. 

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.