CLEVELAND: LeBron James said throughout last season he needed a year to adapt to his surroundings. His turnovers suffered and his efficiency bottomed out as he learned a new system and a new set of teammates.
Now in his second year with relatively the same cast, James’ efficiency is indeed back on the rise. He shot less than 49 percent from the field last season and his turnovers soared to career highs. Although his 3-point shooting is still suffering, James’ overall percentage is back over 51 percent and his turnovers are back down near his career lows.
“My first year in Miami was like that as well. Just getting comfortable with new teammates, knowing what they like, knowing what I like and you kind of have to build that,” James said.
“Me being in Year 2 with these guys, I’ve just built that efficiency back up, knowing I’m going to get the ball, setting a lot of screens, getting around the rim, not settling for too many 3s this year, feeling really good about being where I need to be to help this team offensively.
‘‘It’s resulting in me getting back to where I like to play.”
Blowing leads
The Cavs have led by at least 20 in each of their past five games, but they are still finding ways to make it hard on themselves. They blew the lead and lost to the Houston Rockets at home, needed overtime to fend off the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and allowed the Hornets to get within four in the fourth quarter Sunday.
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue thought the absence of Kyrie Irving played a role in the Hornets’ rally, along with them being a good team that made a run.
“When you’re missing one of your top scorers like we’re missing Kyrie,” Lue said, “…we took LeBron off the floor, it was kind of hard to get scoring with him and Kevin off the floor at the same time.”
Lue was critical of the Cavs’ third-quarter effort following the Hawks’ rally on Friday, but this time he said overall he isn’t concerned with the Cavs’ inability to close teams out after getting a big lead.
“When teams are down, they come out and play harder because their backs are against the wall,” Lue said. “In the third quarter, if you’re down 20, I’m pretty sure the coach is going off on those guys to play harder, be more physical, be more aggressive. It kind of goes both ways, so it’s just not on us, either.”
Long balls
The Cavs have made at least 10 3-pointers now in their past 15 games. It’s the longest active streak and the second-longest this season behind the Golden State Warriors, who did it in 16 consecutive games in November and December.
“The way our offense is structured with LeBron and Kyrie penetrating and getting to the paint or Kevin’s post-ups, guys are double teaming,” Lue said.
“When you penetrate the paint, there’s going to be guys open at the 3-point line. When we’re driving and penetrating and kicking, guys have to take those shots. Those are great shots. They’re in rhythm also, so those are shots we have to take and we have to make them.”
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ. Associated Press