Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James shows off determined side before conference finals

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – LeBron James was in full playoff mode.

As the Cavaliers open the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics Wednesday night at TD Garden, that’s a positive sign.

Speaking Tuesday for the first time since May 7, James was focused. His vibe was salty. He was not pleased that the media did not clear a path to the microphone stand for him. He didn’t want to relive the incident from Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs in 2015, when the Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk dislocated teammate Kevin Love’s shoulder as they battled for a rebound.

Asked if Olynyk was a dirty player, James offered little.

“I’m not about story lines,” he said of the subject brought up on the TNT postgame show minutes after the Celtics eliminated the Washington Wizards on Monday night. “I’m just going to play basketball. You guys are trying to create story lines, I’m not for. … The only story line is Celtics vs. Cavs and who can win this series.”

James, 32, has played only eight games in the past 40 days. The Cavs completed their sweep of the Toronto Raptors on May 7.

He said as the Cavs were in the midst of a week’s break after sweeping the Indiana Pacers that his body feels worse when he doesn’t play.

“I feel worse than I’ve felt, I told you that,” he said Tuesday, mumbling something indiscernible afterward.

The Celtics may be media darlings, which might carry perceived disrespect that upsets James, but the Cavs are heavy favorites. According to ESPN.com, the odds soared in a matter of hours between Monday night and Tuesday morning at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

James has played 29 postseason games against the Celtics in his career and carries a 17-12 record. He hasn’t lost an Eastern Conference playoff series since the Celtics eliminated the Cavs in Game 6 of the semifinals in 2010 and he ripped off his jersey in the TD Garden tunnel. Soon he was gone to the Miami Heat, where he won two of his three championships.

In those 29 games, James has averaged 29 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocked shots.

He might expect more from himself this time. He’s averaging 34.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocks in eight playoff games this season.

James has also won his past three playoff series against the Celtics, two of those with the Heat. The Cavs swept the Celtics in 2015, a series marred by two incidents in Game 4 – Love’s injury and J.R. Smith punching the Celtics’ Jae Crowder. Crowder fell and sprained the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee but managed to avoid surgery; Smith was suspended for the next two games against the Atlanta Hawks.

Although he didn’t want to talk about the ugly moments in the matchup’s history, James genuinely appreciates the Celtics’ history.

“There’s only two winningest franchises in the history of the game, the Lakers and the Celtics. Just respect that and look out up in the stands and see the banners, see the jerseys retired and things of that nature,” he said.

But he doesn’t take time before the game to appreciate the setting.

“I’ve looked up there and seen how cool it was, but I don’t think I actually paused,” he said. “I haven’t paused in my career yet, at all.”

With that last remark, James gave a glimpse of his level of determination. He might believe this round of the playoffs is where the real challenges begin, especially since the Celtics knocked his Cavs out of the playoffs in 2008 and ‘10.

As little as James said in a span of five minutes before the bank of microphones, what he wore might have most revealed how he feels. He’d dug out a shirt he’s worn before in the playoffs, one made for his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

The black, sleeveless Nike tee bore a gold leprechaun throwing a punch.

He’s ready for the physical play that has bordered on brutality during past Cavs-Celtics’ playoff series. James didn’t need to expound on story lines. His choice of practice gear delivered the message.