INDEPENDENCE: Last year’s NBA Finals left LeBron James physically and emotionally spent as he led the injury-plagued Cavaliers through six games against the eventual champion Golden State Warriors.
This year the pressure seemingly would be greater on the 31-year-old four-time MVP to deliver Cleveland its first title since the 1964 Browns. Especially with a healthy Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love alongside him.
But Cavs General Manager David Griffin doesn’t see any evidence of that. As the Cavs open the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks at Quicken Loans Arena, Griffin said James has not been dragged down by the responsibility.