Friday 45 Sports Friday, June 1, 2018 LeBron at ‘all-time level’ for eighth straight NBA Finals 33-year-old superstar defies Father Time OAKLAND: LeBron James says he’s game and put into my craft is who I but collectively his playoffs have playing at an “all-time level” entering am,” James said. “So numbers and been truly remarkable.” James, whose the NBA Finals even as the 33-year- things like that kind of take care of it- 102 million combined social media old superstar defies Father Time to self. But for me, I understand and I followers leads all NBA players, has stretch the prime years of his career. know how much I put into the game. stressed being fit to play this season, “They always kind of talked about So everything else is OK. “I don’t re- the first in which he did not miss a the NBA prime is like 27 and like 31, ally have a ceiling. I want to just try regular-season contest. “I’ve been 32. That’s if you’re lucky, you’ll get to to maximize as much as I can and be blessed to be available. That’s what I that point,” James said. “I’ve just as good as I can.” This season might take pride in more than anything, is never really bought into that.” being available to my teammates James recalled saying this season every single day,” James said. that “this is the best I’ve felt in my “I’ve been a leader to my team- career.... And I continue to just James lead mates all year and I’ve put in the play at an all-time-level standard work. It’s allowed me to be able to for the rest of this season. Hope- Cavaliers into a tomorrow suit up for the 101st fully I can continue it in this Finals fourth straight consecutive time. We’ll see what also.” James spoke Wednesday on championship series happens.” the eve of his eighth consecutive OAKLAND: LeBron James of the works out during the 2018 NBA NBA Finals appearance, and ninth ‘Body of work is amazing’ Finals Media Day at ORACLE Arena on May 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. — AFP overall, as he prepares to lead the Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver is Cleveland Cavaliers into a fourth have done it. He has sparked the Cav- amazed at how quickly and well James years in a row, to still be the first guy world-class conditioning so he can straight championship series against aliers in the playoffs with 34.0 points, can recover after a superlative outing. in the gym every day, to do shooting play all 48 minutes if necessary. “It’s the , who seek 9.2 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.4 steals “The thing that I’m most impressed contests after practice with guys on a big luxury,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn their third title in four seasons. and 1.1 blocked shots per game.”It’s with him is his ability to just keep on two-way contracts, there aren’t peo- Lue said. “When he’s playing those Exactly what level James can pro- amazing to watch,” said Cavs forward going, recover mentally, physically,” ple that do that. Superstars in the amount of minutes throughout the duce in the final is uncertain after Jeff Green. Korver said. Every night he deals with NBA, there’s not many that do that. course of the regular season, that playing 100 games in the season and “That guy has done everything for double teams, with scrutiny, with so “His body of work is amazing.” That’s gets him ready for the playoffs. playoffs combined since late Octo- us. He’s playing outstanding, amazing, much stuff, but the next day he’s the in part because James keeps his body “That’s why he’s probably one of the ber. “The level that I can play at is to phenomenal in year 15. first person at the gym. in amazing shape with daily treat- top conditioned athletes in the be seen, but the level I put into the I’ve seen him play some great games, “For him to have done this eight ments and workouts sustaining world.” — AFP

fore the Cavs downed Boston and the ketball, I don’t feel like you should have Familiarity Warriors ousted Houston. Television rat- any complaints because it’s a great set of ings were up 40 percent from last year, players on both teams.” Some would when the Warriors went on a 16-1 playoff argue that, saying the Cavaliers rely too Hot and hilly: Tokyo breeds respect run to the crown. The conference finals much on James. Late night comedy show game sevens produced the second-most “Saturday Night Live” shared an internet NBA game viewers in US cable television video called “The Other Cavaliers” with a 2020 marathon set for the NBA and ESPN history. If those viewers were Roomba robotic cleaning device at point hoping to see a new set of finalists emerge, guard, a dog at center and teammates giv- for tough finish Finals foes that’s just too bad, said Warriors guard ing James back rubs, high fives and pro- Klay Thompson. “I think the rest of the viding anything else he needs “as long as NBA has got to get better,” Thompson what he needs isn’t basketball.” “I run the TOKYO: Competitors at the Tokyo 2020 marathon will face OAKLAND: Defending champion Golden said. “We’re happy to be a part of history. pick and roll,” actor Mikey Day says in the a grueling uphill finish, organizers said yesterday as they out- State and the Cleveland Cavaliers take It’s pretty cool.” video. “That’s when I pick up LeBron’s lined the route, an additional challenge to summer heat that their epic rivalry to historic levels with a laundry and roll it over to his house.” has already sparked concern. The race, which will start at fin- fourth consecutive NBA Finals showdown- ‘Good, healthy rivalry’ ish at the Olympic Stadium, features an elevation of some 30 a challenge that both say never gets old. Just as the and Punch to the punchlines meters in the last several kilometers. Naoko Takahashi, a for- It’s the first time in major American sports dominated the 1980s, the The real Cavaliers reserves hope to mer Japanese marathon runner who won gold in Sydney in history that the same clubs have played for Warriors and Cavs have built a strong ri- add some punch to the punchlines. “He’s 2000, said the climb would likely be a “decisive factor” in the a crown four years in a row. The Warriors valry in which each has lifted a trophy. definitely a big part of our team. But if you race and should result in a dramatic finish. “The course is flat seek their third title in four years to cement “We respect each other as professionals watch the games, we have guys that have until 37 kilometers but there are two large hills from 37 kilo- their dynasty as the best-of-seven cham- but there’s obviously some dislike be- big moments,” said Cavs forward Tristan meters to just before 40 kilometers,” Takahashi said. “I guess pionship series kicked off yesterday. cause we’ve been facing it for four years Thompson. “LeBron definitely has done a it is likely to be a dramatic race in which no one can predict The Cavaliers, boasting superstar Le- and they beat us, we beat them,” Thomp- great job for us, but he’s not alone. He has the results until the bitter end.” Bron James in his eighth consecutive finals, son said. “So there’s some natural com- help.” But James is a force to be reckoned The race will take in some of the Japanese capital’s iconic try to level their rivalry with Golden State petitiveness that brews between the fan with, Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver said. “I landmarks, including the Tokyo Tower and the Imperial at 2-2. James has no patience for those bases and teams that makes for fun, ener- think the other team always knows that ... Palace. Koji Murofushi, sports director for the Tokyo 2020 that say the matchup has grown stale. getic nights in this arena. So it’s a good if you’re going to win the game you have organizing committee, hailed it “the best-ever Olympic “Teams have had their opportunities to healthy rivalry.” Warriors star forward to go through him,” Korver said. That marathon course”. Organizers said they are taking measures beat the Cavs over the last four years, and Kevin Durant, who won his first title last means the latest installment of the Cavs- against the summer heat, including coating pavements with teams have had the opportunities to beat year after the Cavs dethroned Golden Warriors rivalry will add to someone’s leg- a substance to reduce the surface temperature in the capital the Warriors over the last four years,” State in 2016, says fans should enjoy the endary legacy. “Golden State is one of the where the mercury regularly tops 35C (95F). Takahashi said James said. “If you want to see somebody rivalry while they can. best teams I’ve ever played. It’s one of the the heat would be an additional challenge for the runners- else then you got to beat them.” “It may not be as suspenseful as a lot best teams that’s ever been assembled,” and indeed for all athletes. “The heat is the biggest issue in It nearly happened as for the first time of people want it to be or as drama filled, James said. “I don’t know where they will the entire Tokyo Olympics,” she said. “I hope athletes will in 39 years both the Eastern and Western but that’s what you’ve got movies and fall in my book, but they will have a nice prepare well for it.” — AFP Conference finals went to seven games be- music for,” Durant said. “If you enjoy bas- chapter.”— AFP