Philippines, 26 Feb 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:

  • San Francisco Boxing Leaders Bring It Back: FIGHT NIGHT AT ROCCAPULCO
    , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Alyssa Mendoza, Salim Ellis-Bey and Kelvin Watts Secure Wins on Day Three of 2026 Strandja Boxing Tournament
    , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Herlan Gomez faces Dekang Wang for WBA Asia Superbamtam Title Today in Kunming, China
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Queensberry Promotions to sue SELA and TKO?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev promises prize money for boxers at LA 2028 if the IOC doesn’t change their policy towards athletes’ rewards
    , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Ruben Castillo, The uncrowned champion passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Return of Ryan Garcia
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • “It’s moments a kid dreams off.” Sam Rennie returns for title challenge March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • ‘It’s going to be a great fight and most importantly looking forward to the 10 pints together after it’ Billy Quinncroft challenges for Cruiserweight title March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • Magdalena Contreras Municipality and WBC start "Boxing for Peace" in Mexico
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • United States Captures Four More Wins on Day Two of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • Date set for Manny-Money 2
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • Knockout Artist Sugar Martinez (17-0, 17 KOs) Makes His US Debut Against Philly Veteran Daiyan Butt
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • IM Yap outwits GM Gareyev, shares lead; Maribao split the point with GM Quizon in Round 3 of the Manny Pacquiao International Open chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • 2 Division World Champion José Luis Castillo Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • Doors open for Manny
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • MEXICAN TITANS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD HIGHLIGHTING CINCO DE MAYO WEEKEND IN LAS VEGAS!
    , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • Alex Bray and Gabriela Tellez Capture WBA Titles, Dainier Pero Scores Impressive Stoppage at “Night of Champions XIV” in Orlando
    , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • Cebuana Lhuillier Gems Officially Join Inaugural Pickle Yard Conference League
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • ADAMES AND AMMO CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE IN ORLANDO ON MARCH 21
    , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Alexis Emil Maribao shocks Indonesian Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto in the Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess opener
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • Team USA Notches Perfect Day to Open 77th International Strandja Boxing Tournament
    , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • Floyd Mayweather Vs. Manny Pacquiao Set for Blockbuster Professional Rematch Streaming Live Globally on Netflix Saturday, September 19
    , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • Zulueta, Bactol, Dologuin, Almacen Score Knockout Wins in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • Francisco wins PBF flyweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 24 Feb 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.