PLAYOFFS

LeBron James says Warriors 'too stressful' as Ty Lue starts NBA Finals prep

Michael Singer
USA TODAY
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23), guard Iman Shumpert (4), and teammates celebrate a score during the fourth quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics.

BOSTON – There are only two teams in NBA history that have scored at least 100 points in their first 12 postseason games, and they’re both slated for an unprecedented Finals trilogy.

The Cleveland Cavaliers pounded the Boston Celtics 135-102 on Thursday night, clinching their third consecutive Eastern Conference title and ensuring a rubber match against the Golden State Warriors, who have yet to lose this postseason.

Their offense, at times devastating in their ball movement and crippling from the three-point line, is averaging over 118 points throughout the postseason, which leads the NBA.

It’s why Cavs coach Ty Lue admitted late Thursday night that he planned to begin prep work on the Warriors immediately.

“I didn’t do not one prep for Golden State yet because I really believe that this (Boston) team is a good team and I didn’t want to look too far ahead,” Lue said. “As of tonight I’ll get started.”

With the smell of beer still wafting through the visiting locker room, Lue might be the only one affiliated with the Cavaliers who has the foresight to dive into the film.

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It certainly wasn’t going to be LeBron James, who after passing Michael Jordan for the greatest postseason scorer of all-time and solidifying his seventh consecutive Finals appearance, wasn’t in the right frame of mind to analyze the impending matchup.

“This is a great moment and this is not promised,” James said. “We know that. But once we start to lock in on that beast of a matchup that we’ve got next round, then we’ll be very focused.”

After two Finals collisions, including last year’s thrilling 3-1 Cavaliers comeback to end Cleveland’s 52-year title drought, the Warriors added Kevin Durant to an already perilous offense. His presence, coupled with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, makes the Warriors a juggernaut on both sides of the ball.

“I’m not in the right mind to even talk about Golden State,” James said. “It’s too stressful, and I’m not stressed right now. I have no discussion – Golden State, they’ve been the best team in our league for the last three years, and then they added an MVP. That’s all I can give you right now.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Michael Singer on Twitter @msinger.