INDIANAPOLIS: LeBron James’ 3-point shooting percentage is up, his free-throw shooting percentage dramatically down.
His turnovers in Game 2 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Indiana Pacers were alarmingly high, in the second half of the Cavs’ historic comeback in Game 3 he — and his team — had none.
James acknowledged his failings at the line after practice Saturday at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, twice admitting, “I’m not perfect.”
But he vowed to improve as the Cavs, leading the Pacers 3-0, seek to close out the series at 1 p.m. Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
“You put me on the line and teams will pay for it,” James said.
James made 7-of-14 from the line in Thursday’s 119-114 victory over the Pacers. As the Cavs rallied from a 25-point halftime deficit for the biggest second-half comeback in league postseason history, Pacers coach Nate McMillan called for his team to foul immediately in the final minute to create more possessions.
James was 6-of-12 in the second half and 4-of-8 in the fourth quarter, putting the issue in doubt until Deron Williams made two from the line with 14.4 seconds left to give the Cavs a five-point lead.
In the series, James has made 16-of-29 free throws, his .552 percentage much below his .674 in the regular season, the lowest of his 14-year career.
But James said the issue isn’t mental, and he’s not worried about his slipping percentage.
Conversely, James made 6-of-12 3-pointers in Game 3 and has made 8-of-17 (.471) in the series after shooting .363 during the regular season.
“He’s unstoppable already, but if he’s making the 3, it’s virtually impossible,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “If he’s shooting the ball like that and shooting with confidence, we’re a tough team to beat.”
Twelve 3-point attempts for James in a playoff game might have been unthinkable. But Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love shot 4-of-13 from beyond the arc, Irving 1-of-6, and both sat in the fourth quarter.
“You’ve got to take what the defense gives you and what the game calls for,” Lue said of James’ 3-pointers. “At that point in the game we were down 25, it calls for him to make some big shots, some big 3s. He was able to step up and make ’em.”
James was 3-of-5 from long range in the third quarter of Game 3, two coming in the final 53 seconds as the Cavs cut the deficit to 91-84 going into the fourth quarter.
But James said he wasn’t hunting that shot as he finished with the second 40-point triple-double playoff game of his career. He totaled 41 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.
“No, I don’t hunt it. I just play the game,” he said. “Every game is different and has different challenges and different circumstances. I don’t know. It’s just how I feel. Sometimes the game goes in the favor where I can shoot more 3s. Sometimes our team is casting up a bunch of 3s and I don’t feel like I need to be a part of that. I need to be the one who is getting the ball in the paint.”
James also seems intent on cleaning up his turnovers. He committed eight in Game 2 and has 14 in the series.
“I know what’s going on at all times. It doesn’t always result in what I want,” James said. “Like in Game 2, I had eight turnovers and six of them at halftime, but for the most part, it works in my favor like having zero turnovers in Game 3 in the second half.”
Asked how the turnovers were eliminated, James said, “Just putting the ball on time, on target. Being precise with our offensive movement, our offensive keys and executing that.”
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.