Sometimes a coach just needs to tell their superstar to "shut the f--k up." Even if that superstar happens to be two-time NBA champion LeBron James.
The Cavaliers decimated the Raptors, 115-84, Tuesday in Game 1 to improve to 9-0 this postseason and take a 1-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Cleveland is eyeing its second straight trip to the NBA Finals after losing to the Warriors in six games last spring.
During Game 1, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue set the tone and made sure King James knew his place during a huddle early in the contest when the four-time NBA MVP tried to take over.
"Shut the [expletive up]," Lue told James during Game 1. "I got this."
Tyronn Lue reportedly told LeBron James to "STFU" in one of their first team huddles pic.twitter.com/DaR3sWJyDk
— Hooper's Heaven (@HoopingHeaven) May 18, 2016
The Cavaliers infamously let go of David Blatt earlier this season in a move that reportedly was done at the urging of James. Now that Lue is the bench boss for Cleveland, he's making sure there is team chemistry and that the club listens to its coach, not its star player.
It's obvious to anyone with eyes that the Cavaliers are James' team and it's doubtful they'd be anywhere close to an NBA championship without him returning to the fold. James had 24 points while playing 18:18 in Game 1 on Tuesday, though Kyrie Irving paced the team with 27 points.
James and his teammates have put up a united front throughout their playoff run this postseason and after getting so close last year, they are determined to bring a championship to Cleveland.
"I don't think we have complacency in our minds," James said after Game 1, according to NBA.com. "We have a goal and our goal is not nine wins. I've won nine games before. I've won 14 games before. We will face some adversity."
After winning two NBA titles with the Heat, James knows some of his teammates have the hunger to win their first.
"They waited a full regular season to get back to this moment," James said of his teammates. "They trained their bodies all season long to get back to this point and those guys have been spectacular."
James and the Cavaliers host the Raptors for Game 2 of their series Thursday night in Cleveland.
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