LeBron James has been here many times before -- in this case 'here' is on the verge of putting a rival out of the playoffs -- and he's even been here before against the Chicago Bulls three times.
Once with the Cavs and twice in his four years with the Miami Heat, James eliminated the Bulls from the playoffs and delivered big individual performances each time in the closeout game. Another chance comes tonight as the injury-riddled Cavs are leaning even more heavily than usual on James as they try to turn a 3-2 series advantage into a trip to the Eastern Conference finals.
"A closeout game is just as tough as any other game in the playoffs," James told reporters at Thursday morning's shootaround in Chicago. "It's always difficult to win in the playoffs no matter if it's a closeout game or Game 1. It takes maximum effort and concentration to win a playoff game.
"It shouldn't put more pressure on you because it's a closeout game. You have to take the same mindset and try to give yourself the best shot to win. We have to execute. We have to demand excellence from each other."
James has a career record of 23-10 in closeout games, with half of those losses coming during his first three trips to the postseason with the Cavs. Only once in his career has he failed to win a series when given multiple chances at a closeout as the Cavs have here. That was in 2006, in his first trip to the playoffs, when the Cavs lost Games 6 and 7 to the Detroit Pistons in the conference semifinals.
"Obviously we have a young team and the youngest team still in the playoffs in terms of playoff experience," James said. "But guys understand what tonight entails. We can only focus on the present."
Thursday night, James goes for an encore -- both against the Bulls and in trying to follow his 38-point, 12-rebound, six-assist performance from Game 5 on Tuesday. That was the 51st playoff game of his career in which James scored at least 30 and had at least five rebounds and five assists, tying him with Michael Jordan for the most 30-5-5 games in playoff history.
Here's what James has done against Jordan's old team in past closeout games...
April 27, 2010 - First round, Game 5
May 26, 2011 - Eastern Conference finals, Game 5
James had 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks as the Heat put the Bulls away in Chicago.
May 15, 2013 - Eastern Conference semifinals, Game 5
James had 23 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals as the Heat -- just like they did in 2011 -- won four straight from the Bulls after dropping the series opener.
