Cleveland: The trades, dysfunction and months of madness are all behind the Cavaliers.
A new season lies ahead. The one that matters.
LeBron James played in his 82nd game, scored 10 points and then got some rest for the play-offs as the Cavaliers concluded a “crazy” regular season with a 110-98 loss on Wednesday night to New York in what was Jeff Hornacek’s last game as Knicks coach.
James had never played every game in his 15-year NBA career. But the 33-year-old capped a remarkable run in which he seemed to break a record every night by adding another accomplishment to his long list of achievements.
And now he’ll try to get to his eighth straight Finals and win a fourth title with a team that looks nothing like it did in November.
“We’ve got a chance,” James said. “We’re one of 16 teams that have a chance to win a championship. That’s all you can ask for.”
Cleveland’s season included injuries, a heated team meeting, a roster overhaul at the trade deadline and Lue being forced to take a medical leave after experiencing chest pains.
“It has been pretty crazy and you know through all the craziness and the different moving parts and moving pieces, I thought we did a good job of just staying together,” Lue said. “I think the new group came in and I like the way they kind of came together the last 15 games of the season. All of that is behind us now and I just want to look forward to going into the playoffs.”
For James, this season presented personal triumph.
He averaged 27.5 points and set career highs with 9.1 assists and 8.6 rebounds. James also surpassed 30,000 career points, started his record 14th straight All-Star game and fuelled the debate over whether he has surpassed Michael Jordan as the best player in league history.
“It’s the best I’ve felt all season and I’ve got the numbers to back it up and I’ve got the wins to back it up as well,” James said.
Before the game, Lue said he tried to talk James out of playing, but he gave in and allowed the four-time MVP to extend his record of scoring in double digits to 873 consecutive games before taking him out. James finished with 10 points and five rebounds in 10:33.
From here out, he won’t be sitting much.
With Philadelphia beating Milwaukee, the Cavs are the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and will face Indiana in the opening round. The Pacers went 3-1 against the Cavs this season.
Meanwhile, another rocky season in New York is mercifully over.
The Knicks (29-53) got off to a solid start but never recovered after losing All-Star Kristaps Porzingis to a torn knee ligament. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Knicks informed Hornacek that he was fired once they returned to suburban New York after beating the Cavaliers.
One of the league’s most storied franchises remains aimless. The Knicks have missed the playoffs five straight years and lost at least 50 games in each of the last four.
“Jeff is a good guy,” forward Michael Beasley said of Hornacek. “He played the hand he was dealt. It’s difficult to do anything because all you’re thinking about is not to mess up.”
The NBA has released the first-round playoff schedule, and the reigning NBA champs will host the postseason opener.
Game 1 between Golden State and San Antonio opens the slate on Saturday at 3pm. Eastern — a somewhat unusual noon local time tip-off for the Warriors.
The Warriors-Spurs game will followed Saturday by three other openers — Washington-Toronto, Miami-Philadelphia and New Orleans-Portland.
On Sunday, the games are Milwaukee-Boston, Indiana-Cleveland, Utah-Oklahoma City and Minnesota-Houston.
Game 2s will be held on Monday through Wednesday.
Game 3s start Thursday, and all Game 7s — if necessary — would be on April 28 and 29.
For those planning way ahead, the NBA Finals are set to begin on May 31.
Play-off schedule
Eastern Conference
Toronto Raptors (1) v Washington Wizards (8)
Boston Celtics (2) v Milwaukee Bucks (7)
Philadelphia 76ers (3) v Miami Heat (6)
Cleveland Cavaliers (4) v Indiana Pacers (5)
Western Conference
Houston Rockets (1) v Minnesota Timberwolves (8)
Golden State Warriors (2) v San Antonio Spurs (7)
Portland Trail Blazers (3) v New Orleans Pelicans (6)
Oklahoma City Thunder (4) v Utah Jazz (5)
