Philippines, 26 Apr 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


"So what?"


PhilBoxing.com




That, more or less, was LeBron James? reaction to the Cleveland Cavaliers? 83-108 blowout loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their best-or-seven Eastern Conference finals Sunday.

?Game 1 has always been a feel-out game for me,? James told media men during the usual post-game press conference.

?I have zero level of concern at this stage,? James added, implying he wasn?t worried at all at what happened. ?I didn?t go to college, so it?s not March Madness. You know, you get better throughout the series.?

?You see ways you can get better throughout the series. I?ve been down 0-1, I?ve been down 0-2. I?ve been down before in the postseason,? he reminisced. ?But for me, there?s never a level of concern no matter how bad I played tonight, with seven turnovers, how inefficient I was shooting the ball. I?m just as confident going into a series whether it?s a 0-0 series or I?m down 0-1.?

James shrugged at reporters trying to get into the root of Sunday?s blowout. ?I?ve seen every coverage, pretty much,? Bron said in reference to the Cavs? awful 15.4 percent three-point shooting. ?We?re going to take those same looks in Game 2, if the opportunity presents itself.?

Later, James was asked to explain the start of the fourth quarter, when the Celtics stretched a 14-point lead to 21 in the first 68 seconds. He replied by recounting Boston?s first three offensive possessions.

In Game 2 of the Conference quarterfinals when the Indiana Pacers were threatening to take a 2-0 lead after winning Game 1 at home, LeBron shot 46 points on 71 percent shooting in a three-point win.

Boston though isn?t Indiana and allowing the Celtics to go 2-0 would look nearly insurmountable given the way the team has been playing. ?Totally different team, different series,? Cleveland?s J.R. Smith said.

On the eve of Game 1 on Saturday, Marcus Morris declared himself to be the best ?Bron defender? this side of Kawhi Leonard. On Sunday, he backed it up, limiting James to 15 points, while chipping in 21 points and 10 rebounds.

?I?m a competitor,? Morris said. ?He?s the best player. I?m going to be able to tell my kids this one day. It?s exciting. I love the challenge. But it?s a team effort.?

Morris couldn't have been a factor. A few minutes into the first quarter, Morris picked up his second foul. Many coaches would have pulled him out. Brad Stevens didn?t and Morris picked up just one more foul the rest of the way. ?If he fouls out in the first quarter, somebody else has to play,? Stevens said. ?That?s the way it goes.?

?Boston showed James two bodies all night,? Cavs coach Tyronn Lue noted. ?When they thought he had driving lanes, they helped, making him kick it out to our shooters.?

The Cavs? shooters, however, missed, 14 straight times from 3-point range, to be exact. The Cavs made just 36 percent of their shots, were outrebounded (48-40) and surrendered 60 points in the paint.

Asked what Cleveland can improve on, Kyle Korver said, ?Pretty much everything.?

In Game 2 on Tuesday, James can expect a Boston team bracing for a superior performance. ?We?ll get a heavyweight punch on Tuesday night,? Stevens told Yahoo Sports, adding the Celtics will make James defend to slow him down by encouraging youthful Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart to attack when James are guarding them.

Stevens admitted that Boston struggled against Cleveland last season. This year, this team might not.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Sanman 100 Official Weigh-In Results from General Santos
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Subkhankulov stops Usmonov, Agrba wins hard test, and Aminova claims WBA Asia title at IBA.PRO 17 in Ufa
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Pero vs Miller: Heavies Collide in Prove it fight on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Subkhankulov Stops Usmonov in Russia, Claims IBF No. 2 Spot at Lightweight
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Yeow Ming to fight in Bangkok for ABF title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • MILLER VS. PERO - WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • IBA Pro Champions Night to feature world champions in Saint Petersburg
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Noelle Haro and Marie Rosendo Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Four of 2026 World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
    , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • Bautista to face Dulayba at Okada on April 30
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 25 Apr 2026
  • LAS VEGAS FIGHT WEEK: PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS MILLER AND PERO COLLIDE IN WBA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Undefeated Knockout Artist Amari “The Reaper” Jones Headlines First-Ever DAZN Card Against Former World Champion Vincenzo “Il Capo” Gualtieri
    , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Mexican female stars Mayelli Flores and Irma ¨Torbellino¨ Garcia sign with MVP
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Basil to fight Britanico on April 26 in Delpan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Race briefing of Mt. Apo Boulder Face on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Into fights for IBA championship on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Camigue fights in Tanzania on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Team USA Captures Three More Wins on Day Three at World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
    , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • 1,400 runners in Sagisag Davao Leg
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • The Marvelous Cup Invitational tourney set
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Apr 2026
  • Junior Middleweights Currently The Hottest Division In Boxing!
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • All Star Boxing Announces 'Clash of the Unbeaten' on May 22nd In Panama
    , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • Oliver Laroya Chess Tournament on April 25
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Undefeated Rising Prospect Robert Guerrero Jr. to Appear at 3rd Annual Battle of the Trades on April 25
    , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • WBC WORLD CHAMPION DALTON SMITH SIGNS NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH EDDIE HEARN’S MATCHROOM BOXING
    , Thu, 23 Apr 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team Swept Day Two of World Boxing Cup - Stage 1
    , Thu, 23 Apr 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.