Tyronn Lue says Cavaliers are best in East on account of LeBron James

Tyronn Lue says Cavaliers are best in East on account of LeBron James 

CLEVELAND - Ask Tyronn Lue who is the best group in the Eastern Conference and he'll reveal to you it's his Cleveland Cavaliers, regardless of how unpleasant their current battles have been.

Why?

"Since we have the best player on the planet," Lue said before the Cavs lost to the Golden State Warriors 118-108 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

He's alluding, obviously, to LeBron James, the four-time MVP and three-time champion who was averaging 27.1 focuses, 8.8 helps and eight bounce back this season entering Monday.

As Lue's pregame media gathering proceeded, maybe the mentor had a minute to think about the Cavs' present spot in the standings: third in the East; seven amusements back of No. 1 Boston and four recreations back of No. 2 Toronto - two groups that altogether took care of Cleveland on its current five-amusement street trip in which it completed an irrelevant 1-4.

He at that point balanced his rating of the Cavs.

"To answer your inquiry in a superior light, we're not at this moment, but rather we will be the best group in the East, yes," Lue said. "All things considered, we're not playing the best right now, but rather we will be."Warriors mentor Steve Kerr said James' essence on the Cavs dependably makes them a risk over the long haul.

"I am exceptionally mindful that they have LeBron," Kerr said amid his pregame comments. "Consistently, consistently. We've played them in the [NBA] Finals three straight years and I promise you there was a minute like this in every one of the three seasons - no less than one, here and there additional. So we know. He's continually going to get the ship corrected and what happens now has nothing to do with what happens later."

Kerr included that James has unrealistically enhanced from his officially lifted level of play amid this second stretch with the Cleveland since returning in 2014.

"I know he's preferable now over he was four years prior," Kerr said. "That is crazy when you consider that since that should've been his prime - four years prior. Furthermore, he was at that point a MVP and a champion. In any case, he's better. He's a superior shooter, better player. He continues showing signs of improvement. I trust him."

Lue said the Cavs' current battles can be connected to Isaiah Thomas being incorporated into the lineup following a 7½-month cutback from hip damage, yet Cleveland will deal with that as Thomas will enhance with more open doors.

"I think working I.T. back has been intense, in light of the fact that he had a moment limitation and after that he's backpedaling and playing with the second unit when they had a decent beat going," Lue said. "So now his minutes are beginning to increment. It's simply been an extreme time to attempt and make sense of the minutes and get him off the floor at the correct time, and right planning and diverse blends. However, you know, we'll make sense of it."

Kerr said that whenever the Warriors play the Cavs - the group they've looked in the NBA Finals for a NBA-record three straight circumstances - it makes a difference somewhat more.

"It will be passionate regardless," Kerr said. "I'm certain it gives them even more a feeling of direness to return and begin playing superior to anything they have. Some of the time this is the best thing for a group that is battling is a contention diversion, get the blood going. I anticipate that them will come join the fun a great deal superior to anything they have been these last couple weeks."

Also, if the Warriors add another win to their current hot spell and the Cavs include another misfortune?

"There's a mindfulness that nothing is chosen in January," Kerr said. "Anyone who's been in the alliance realizes that whatever happens now has nothing to do with what occurs in June, however there's only an extraordinary inclination when you play against each other when you have this sort of contention. There's 82 recreations, yet certain diversions you circle and you get more energized for, and this is one of them."