Cavaliers say they’re healthy and ready to play

By Mary Schmitt Boyer

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

LeBron James’ right elbow?

Fine.

Anderson Varejao’s back?

Fine.

Shaquille O’Neal’s right thumb?

Fine.

All of the above went through a full-contact practice Thursday, and everybody is ready to go for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals tonight in Boston.

That apparently includes the Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (foot) and Kendrick Perkins (knee), who also practiced Thursday.

Everybody on the Cavs knows what has to be done to erase the memories of the 104-86 loss in Game 2 on Monday that evened the series at 1-1.

“As a team, we all need to come out more aggressively,” James said. “Not only myself. I can’t go a whole first half and only take five shots and shoot 40 percent from the field. I have to be more aggressive, try to get more shot attempts up.

“It’s hard to get into an offensive rhythm when you’re not into it offensively early like I was [not]. As a team, we all have to do the same thing. When we get good looks we have to take them and we have to knock them down.

“Whoever is out there has to be productive.”

Though he patiently answered question after question about his sore right elbow, James made it clear he will not use it as an excuse and will play through it.

“It felt good today,” he said. “It didn’t flare up today at all. We had contact drills and I was able to go through the whole practice and it didn’t flare up one time today, so that’s a good sign.

“If it’s hurting throughout the game, there’s no way it can stay off your mind. You want to be conscious about it, but at the same time, I’ve got to be able to pull through it and find a way to try to help the team. It doesn’t change my approach.

“But if you’re dribbling up and down the court and you can feel a twinge or you feel it lock up, it’s going to stop you from doing some things that you usually would be able to do. It is what it is and I’ve got to play with it.”

James said he had been resting the elbow, as well as getting electrical stimulation therapy, elevating it and icing it. Varejao, who left Game 2 after the third quarter with back spasms, also has been getting treatment.

“It’s still a little bit sore, but it’s much better,” Varejao said of his back. “I did treatment the last two days and I believe it will be fine for the game.”

O’Neal said his right thumb was not bothering him and was not responsible for him shooting just 8-of-22 in the series.

“I’m OK,” said O’Neal, who missed the final six weeks of the regular season after having thumb surgery for a torn ligament suffered in Boston on Feb. 25. “I’m used to taking 30-40 shots a game. The little chippies I shoot, I’ve just got to make them. It’s just me. I’m just missing. It’s only my sixth or seventh game back. Like I said earlier, I won’t miss ‘em all.”

James said the team is counting on O’Neal.

“We need him to get going,” James said. “We need him to get into some type of rhythm. He hasn’t shot the ball particularly well from the field. He hasn’t played a lot of big minutes. But we need him to get going.”