J-Speaks: The Latest Triple-Double By LeBron James

Since the trade deadline when the three-time defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers acquired George Hill, Rodney Hood, Larry Nance, Jr., and Jordan Clarkson, they have gone 7-7 after starting 3-0. In the early stages of March, the team has gone 2-4, with two tough losses in Los Angeles last weekend at the Clippers (37-30) 116-102 a week ago and at the Lakers 127-113 this past Sunday. The best medicine for them came in the order of the Phoenix Suns and four-time league MVP LeBron James led the way again.

In the Cavs (39-29) 129-107 victory at the Suns (19-51) on Tuesday night, James continued his brilliant 15^th season in the NBA by recording his 14^th triple-double on the season, a new single-season career-high and the 69^th of his career with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, to go along with three steals and two blocks. 

James garnered that 14^th triple-double when he hit Clarkson for a dunk on the fast break early in the fourth. 

To put into context what James has done in terms of the amount of triple-doubles he has garnered in his career, his first came on Jan. 19, 2005 where at 21-years-old had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in leading the Cavs to a 107-100 win at the Portland Trail Blazers.

This was the James’ second triple-double in the last 10 days, where head coach Tyronn Lue saw seven of his players score double-figures, where Jordan Clarkson had 23 points off the bench hitting 6 for 10 from three-point range. Sharp shooter Kyle Korver in his first start of the season had 22 points, going 5 for 6 from distance. The guy he replaced in the starting lineup JR Smith had 14 points off the bench, while Jeff Green and Ante Zizic each had 11 points and Hill chipped in with 10. 

“I was playing all three facets and more,” James, who was 7 for 14 from the field, and 13 for 15 from the free throw line said at his locker to reporters after the win. “I picked up a charge as well, a couple of blocks, a couple of steals, just being around the court and reliable for my teammates. Being able to clean glass, get my guys good looks where they are able to catch and shoot or catch it and lay it up, makes it a lot easier for me.”

Behind James’ focus and relentless attack on offense throughout the game, the Cavs in garnering their sixth straight win versus the Suns shot 49.4 percent for the contest, registering 25 assists on 43 field goals, making 17 of their 35 attempts from three-point range and 26 for 30 from the foul line.

“I’m always trying to find the open spot,” Korver said. “(James) commands a lot of attention. We had a couple of sets where we tried to get up a couple of shots for me. A lot of it was just playing the game and reading the game.” 

That is something that Suns’ interim head coach Jay Triano pointed out after the game saying that James’ ability to find the open man is “probably the most elite of the NBA players that he has.” 

He added by saying, “His ability to, not just share it, but how he delivers it. He throws the ball so hard and it’s always on time and on target. We saw that years ago when Steve Nash played. He delivered the ball, and everybody shot a better percentage when they played with him. Everybody who plays with LeBron shoots a much better percentage.”

In a season that has been full of ups-and-downs for the Cavs, the one constant has been the play of two-time Finals MVP in James, whose 69^th career triple-double is No. 6 all-time in NBA history, behind Hall of Famer the late Wilt Chamberlin (78); Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard and reigning league MVP Russell Westbrook; future Hall of Famer and former Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd (100); and Hall of Famers in five-time NBA champion and current Vice President of Basketball Operations with the Lakers Earvin “Magic” Johnson (138) and Oscar Robertson (181). 

His consistent play is a major reason why the Cavs have a hold, all be it a slim one on the No. 4 Seed in the East as they are just ½ a game behind the No. 3 Seeded Indiana Pacers (40-29), but just ½ a game in front of the No. 5 Seeded Washington Wizards (39-30). 

Before their tilt at the Suns James spoke about how if the Cavs are going to turn things around as the playoffs are just around the corner, they need to get healthy. 

Right now, the Cavs are missing starting center Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love, who have been on the shelf because of a sprained ankle and injured hand respectably and Hood had been out recently because of a back contusion. 

“It’s every day, nine o’clock every single day,” James said about how he has stayed healthy throughout the season. “Working on my body either with treatment or working on my body in the weight room. Continuing to build strength throughout the season when everybody else is kind of tearing down. Working on my game on the court. Not putting too much pounding on my legs when I’m on the court, just being very efficient. You know I’ve kind of figured it out in my 15^th season.” 

“Like I said, I’m honored and happy with what I’ve been able to do. I don’t take it for granted that I’ve been able for my team every game and hopefully I can continue.”

To put what James said into perspective, He has played in 1,127 games since the start of the 2003-04 NBA campaign, with Houston Rockets veteran guard Joe Johnson second to him with 1,103 games played and in third place is Korver with 1,097. 

Those games do not include playoff participation or the seven straight times that James has been to The Finals. 

In his aforementioned 15^th season in “The Association,” James is averaging 37.0 minutes per game, which is third in the league behind now injured All-Star guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves Jimmy Butler at 37.1 and All-Star forward for the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo at 37.2.

Along with their stellar play offensively at the Suns on Tuesday night, the Cavs played solid defense as they held the home team to 26 percent from the field, including 1 for 9 from three-point range to take a 38-18 lead after one. They Cavs held the Suns to 38.8 percent from the field on the night; to just 6 for 32 from three-point range; had nine blocks and forced 18 turnovers, recording 12 steals and that led to 21 points. The Cavs also registered 27 fast break points. 

Suns top offensive player Devin Booker, who 22 games of 30 points this season had just 17 points on the night on just 7 for 16 from the field.  

In a career that has seen LeBron James be as durable as one could be playing the amount of minutes and having to carry the kind of load he has had to in both stints with the Cavs and in four seasons with the Miami Heat from 2010-14, he has yet to play 82 games in his career, which is on the verge of doing for the first time in his career this season. 

That is because of a relentless, committed, determination of working out and training in the off-season and during the season as he has gotten older that has allowed him to be able play at a high level for so long and to put his team in position to have a chance to win night-in and night-out in the regular season and the postseason. 

It is that commitment and confidence in his ability, along with the major overhaul at the Feb. 8 trade deadline that gives the Cavs a serious shot to make their fourth straight trip to The Finals and James’ eighth in succession individually. 

For them though it is about getting Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson back as quickly as possible, so Coach Lue can integrate them into the rotation and gives the Cavs a healthy squad going into the playoffs, which begin next month. 

If they can be anything close to like they were on Tuesday night at the Suns, where they were engaged on both ends of the floor for 48 minutes, that is bad news for the rest of the Eastern Conference, especially the current No. 1 Seeded Toronto Raptors (51-17) and the No. 2 Seeded Boston Celtics (46-22). 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 3/13/18 6:30 p.m. edition of NBATV’s “10 Before Tip,” with Jared Greenberg; 3/14/18 1 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by Kia with Matt Winer, Greg Anthony and Brent Barry; www.espn.com/nba/standings; www.nba.com/games/20180313/CLEPHX#/recap/boxscore/matchup; www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/gamelog/_/id/1966/lebron-james; www.espn.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/minutes; and https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/triple-double-most-times.html.