Bulls’ talk spurs LeBron

By Mary Schmitt Boyer

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

CHICAGO

Keep talking, Chicago. LeBron James loves it.

“I thrive on adversity,” James said with a grin on Wednesday as the Cavaliers prepared for Game 3 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Bulls tonight in the United Center.

After all, look what happened in Game 2. The chirpy Bulls invited him to take jump shots, which he did — to the tune of 40 points, 15 in the decisive fourth quarter of the Cavs’ 112-102 victory that gave Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

James adamantly denied that he told the Bulls bench that he was going to get 40 points on Monday night.

“I absolutely did not say that,” he said. “That’s not a true statement. I was going to take the shot, though. I don’t think it was disrespectful for them to tell me to take the shot. But I feel like I worked enough on my game where I feel like I’m confident to keep on continuing to take those shots. I made a lot of jumpers that game, which was good for myself and good for our team.

“I didn’t mouth off at all. I was smiling most of the time. I was just looking over at the bench and giving them that look that I can make outside shots. I understand a lot of teams would love to make me shoot jumpers and keep me out of the paint. That’s what I would do if I was guarding me.

“I wouldn’t talk to me if I was guarding me, though. I would just let me play my game.”

In addition to advising the Bulls, James also suggested some things the Cavs need to do better in Game 3. They were outscored in the paint in Game 2, 56-38. The Bulls also had the edge in second-chance points, 21-7. The Cavs had 12 turnovers while forcing just four.

“We know we can play better,” James said. “We know what we can control.”