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For the second straight year, the Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves down 0-3 to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Kevin Durant played a spectacular game with a championship performance that trumps any of his previous playoff games.
Durant’s 43 points,13 rebounds and seven assists easily bested LeBron James and his triple-double game of 33 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
Early in the first half, James tweaked his ankle and that may have affected his second half performance. Even so, the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer needed a 40-point game of his own to match Durant’s ferocity to win Game 3.
LeBron James has either scored 40 points or recorded a triple-double in each of his last seven elimination games. pic.twitter.com/R56LhzEH7Z
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 27, 2018
Yet, despite the Cavs facing elimination after three games in the Finals, there is no one in NBA history who performs better with his back against the wall. For some reason, elimination games bring out the best in the three-time Finals MVP. And I believe I know why.
The Clutch Gene and Killer Instinct
For many years, the narrative surrounding James was that he has no “clutch gene,” that particular trait that the greatest players have which enables them to score at will during crunch time and control the game in the final minutes.
But the truth is, James can score in the clutch, as he has shown time and time again — especially this season where he was number one in the league in clutch scoring.
Here’s the thing:
James does have the “clutch-gene” and he has a killer instinct in the same way that Michael Jordan, the player that James is most compared to in the clutch, has it. The difference with James is “when” this killer instinct gets activated. Based on the number of times that James has been in elimination games and how he has played prior to these games, he clearly plays best when he has no choice but to perform at a higher level than he has played before.
LeBron James either has a triple-double or a 40-point game in each of his last 7 elimination games
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 26, 2018
Two years ago, when I was still writing for King James Gospel, I wrote a piece on my observations regarding this topic in an editorial titled, “LeBron James and the Psychology of a Killer Instinct.” Here’s what I said as to when James’ killer instinct gets triggered:
“LeBron James needs to be challenged with his back against the wall in order for his killer instinct to kick in.
Whenever he is about to be eliminated from the playoffs, he becomes focused and plays with a ferocity and tenacity that makes him nearly unstoppable for an entire game or for long stretches during a game.
This is why he performs best during elimination games, in fact, the best we have ever seen. And that includes Jordan.”
James has laser-focus when his team needs a win desperately. That desperation activates his need to play above and beyond what normal superstars are capable of playing. Unlike Jordan whose killer instinct is on almost all the time, James seems to be getting by through sheer brilliance alone which is normal for him. But when he’s put in a win-or-go-home situation, he responds with a historically great game.
The Why
What I wasn’t able to articulate previously is why James doesn’t manifest this killer instinct in every game.
I have a theory for this and it has something to do with James’ gifts of court awareness and being able to remember plays that happen throughout the course of a game and after it.
Being aware of everything that happens at any given time means that he is constantly thinking of so many things during a play. From defenders to cutters to the shot clock, game clock, and timing his moves, James is observing and analyzing so many things that it sometimes stifles him as to what he wants to do. Is he going to pass or shoot? Will he take a jumper or drive? Do they need a two or a three? He analyzes every possibility and that sometimes causes him to freeze from indecisiveness.
That’s not so with Jordan, who prioritized scoring first and everything else second.
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LeBron James is such a gifted scorer and passer that these two sometimes get in the way of him making the right decision. When he’s required to shoot, he sometimes second guesses himself, choosing instead to make the right basketball play even when the right basketball play is for him to score and take the blame even if he misses the shot.
Not so with an elimination game. LeBron James knows that he has to score first and pass second. He knows that if he’s going down, he’s going down with no bullets left. He recognizes that he is the only one with the poise and composure to make shots when everyone else is scared.
LeBron’s Killer Instinct at Work
That’s also the reason why he has played so well this season, one that’s considered by many as the best of his career.
When it seemed as though his team was going to be outside of the playoff picture for the first time, the 14-time All-Star played all 82 games and posted his highest assists average, tied his career high in rebounds, and averaged his most points in eight years.
This year’s playoffs alone shows how great he performs in the most pressure-packed situations. James has already played in three elimination games prior to Game 4 of the Finals.
1. Indiana Pacers Game 7
45 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, 16-of-25 FGs, 2-3 3pt FGs, 11-of-15 FTs
2. Boston Celtics Game 6
46 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks, 17-of-33 FGs, 5-7 3pt FGs, 7-of-11 FTs
3. Boston Celtics Game 7
35 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 blocks, 12-of-24 FGs, 3-of-8 3pt FGs, 8-of-11 FTs
Though he plays like he’s the best player in the game in almost every game he appears in, James plays like he’s the all-time greatest whenever his season is about to end.
2018 Finals, Game 4
Friday will be LeBron's fourth elimination game this playoffs and you can be sure that James will bring his A++ game from the opening tip. All he knows is that he is fighting for his and his team’s survival. No one is more dangerous in league annals when all his chips are down than the 15-year veteran who wants nothing more than to earn his fourth championship ring.
If you’re a betting man, I would advise you against betting on the King on that day. History shows that he plays his best when there’s no tomorrow, when there’s only today on his mind.
When the smoke clears at the end of the Friday’s game, expect LeBron James to have displayed another epic performance that will leave fans in awe. Another 50-point game may be in the works for Game 4 or a triple-double, perhaps. Then again, he might just surprise us with an even better performance than these because he’s the best there is when elimination stares him in the face.
