LeBron James questions Cleveland Cavaliers mindset

Saturday night adds to list of game winning shots LeBron has made during his two stints as the leader of the wine and gold. “I feel I can make something happen not only for myself but for our team and I’m happy I was able to come through for us”. “As long as we have wonderful guys like Masai (Ujiri, the Raptors general manager) here, I’m sure the partnership will grow and blossom”.

J.R. Smith fouled Joe Johnson on a 3-pointer with 15.2 seconds left, allowing the Nets to tie the game at 88.

Brooklyn guard Jarrett Jack then missed a heave from 63 feet out, sealing the win for Cleveland, who improved to 13-4 and an unbeaten 9-0 at home. I work on those shots. I’ve probably never made one of those for a game-winner. “Sometimes it’s a little easier when you get someone bigger because you got to get it over top of them”. Or perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered what was said because LeBron is LeBron. “I thought we guarded it well, but he made the shot”. “It’s definitely insane. I grew up watching him, I had a relationship with him before I was in the league, so just to go against him even to this day is definitely insane to see how much time has changed”. “Yep. Give it to No. 23”.

James and Kevin Love (21 points and 13 rebounds) were strong in the third quarter, but they couldn’t pull the Cavs away from the Raptors.

Brook Lopez (22 points) led the way for the Nets.

The third quarter ended with a back-and-forth flourish after a five-minute start to the second half that seemingly set the National Basketball Association back light years from wherever the heck it was at halftime. Matthew Dellavedova’s 3-pointer gave the Cavaliers a 69-68 lead going into the final period. Mo Williams contributed 14 points and Tristan Thompson secured 10 points and 11 boards off the bench.

LeBron James questions whether his Cleveland Cavaliers side have the right mindset to succeed after the defeat to Toronto Raptors.

“I hope it lasts forever”, he said. “They don’t really care about that”.

Love reported to camp significantly leaner and lighter this season.

Before the game, Nets coach Lionel Hollins had a reason for all the close losses: His Nets aren’t as good as the opposition. There certainly has been a bit of hand-wringing among observers of the team wondering when the on-court product would actually look as good as the Cavs’ 13-4 record is. I think we answered the call on what we talked about.

Johnson’s first-quarter jumper extended the NBA’s longest active streak of games with at least one made field goal to 900. After spending most of the first 16 games on the road playing playoff teams, eight of their next nine games come at Barclays Center, with the ninth just across the river at Madison Square Garden. The team wore them against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.