LeBron James: 'Kinda Weird' Cavs, Raptors Only Have 2 Days Between Games
Some fans believe the NBA postseason can drag on too long, as it stretches from April to June.
Not LeBron James, though. The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is looking to get as much rest as possible in between games.
On Thursday, he questioned why his Cavs and the Toronto Raptors are the only teams not to have two full days off in between Games 1 and 2 this round, via Sports Illustrated:
It's already been an exhausting postseason for the 15-year vet—and he's only one round and one game into it.
The Indiana Pacers pushed Cleveland to seven games in the opening round, with the four-time NBA MVP having to carry his team while playing 41.1 minutes per game. That comes following a regular season that saw him play all 82 games for the first time in his career.
And the Raptors didn't make it any easier on James, with Game 1—which was two days after the Cavs knocked off the Pacers in Game 7—needing overtime to be decided. Add another 47 minutes to his total.
James has played in a playoff-leading 41.9 minutes per game thus far. Don't forget this is the same player who has not had a full offseason in years, thanks to seven consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.
No wonder he admitted to feeling "burnt" and "tired" after the Pacers series:
It is curious as to why Cleveland and Toronto are the only squads with just one day off in between their first two contests. Both teams had extended opening-round series (the Raptors needed six games to defeat the Washington Wizards). While the Boston Celtics also only had two days off in between series, they will take the floor for the first time since Monday for Thursday's Game 2.
Between the heavy workload and the schedule, James is feeling the effects of the playoff grind. Until his teammates step up and carry their weight, it's going to be hard for the Cavs to give him any rest during games as he has been the only player consistently performing at a high level.
Of course, it this season ends with his fourth ring, James' tireless efforts will all be worth it.
