Work Load: Lebron Not Slowing As Playoff Minutes Increase

"Benjamin Button," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue called him, referring to the fictional character who ages backward. Following a regular season in which he averaged more minutes per game (37.8) than any player, James logged 43.7 per game during Cleveland's tougher-than-it-looked sweep over the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. [...] as James and the defending champions await either Toronto or Milwaukee in the second round, James is taking advantage of the down time. [...] as has been the case for months, James' playing time was one of the prime topics presented to Lue, who believes that the four-time MVP's heavy workload during the regular season is what enables him to play at such high levels in the postseason. Consider that James averaged 32.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9.0 assists, shot 54 percent from the field, went 9 of 20 on 3-pointers and led the Cavaliers to the biggest second-half comeback in league history during the series against Indiana, and it's easy to see why Lue wants to move past the minutes chatter. [...] he is able to play those 42, 43 minutes. Because he's used to it. Unlike the regular season, when brutal travel schedules, back-to-backs and stretches of three games in four nights can wear players down, the postseason allows for recovery.

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