LeBron James has unsettled business with the San Antonio Spurs. Back in 2007 when James was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he got embarrassed in the NBA Finals. The team lost in a quick four games and closed out James' chance of getting his first title. Set for a rematch, just with a different team, James is out for revenge.
"I have something in me that they took in'07. Beat us on our home floor. Celebrated on our home floor. I won't forget that. You shouldn't as a competitor. You should never forget that," James said.
After reaching the Finals in 2007, James went on to have three more frustrating postseasons with the Cavaliers before leaving for the Miami Heat. After being placed in the Big 3 with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, James suffered yet another frustrating playoff run. The team lost in the 2011 Finals to Dallas, a series where James played some of the worst basketball of his career.
It is those stints of failure that is fueling James to win his second NBA Championship. The reigning MVP is done losing and is only using the failures as motivation.
"Well, I've lost enough. I don't need any more fuel from losing. I've lost two Finals, so I don't need anymore fuel from losing the Finals," James said.
Now a much different player than he was back in '07, James is ready to handle the pressure of facing the Spurs once again. He has improved his shooting from all ranges of the court and his willingness to defend the big guys has helped Miami's cause. The Spurs are well aware of James' transformation from a good player to a great player and recognize that he will player differently this time around.
"That was like ancient history. He was basically a neophyte at the time, wondering how all this stuff worked and how it's put together. We were very fortunate at that time to get him so early," said San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich. "But at this point, he's grown. He doesn't care what you all say. He knows basketball better than everybody put together in this room."
In the 2007 Finals, James shot 14.8 percent from mid-range jumpers and just 20.0 percent from the 3-point line. This season, James is averaging 43.2 percent from mid-range and 40.6 percent from the 3-point line. It is those jumps in stats that will make all this different in 2013.