The Cleveland Cavaliers currently trail 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals series against the young and athletic Boston Celtics team without their two superstars, Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. It has been a very up and down season for this Cavaliers team with many changes happening throughout the year.

They parted ways with some huge pieces including Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert, Jae Crowder, Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade. And they completely revamped their roster to a much younger team with hopeful players including Larry Nance Jr, Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood and George Hill.

It was a risky move, and some can debate whether the team is better or worse with the younger talent in replacement of the veterans. But what’s done is done. The Cavaliers have to win their next two games in games six and seven of the Eastern Conference Finals with the roster they have if their superstar King James, wants to reach his 8th consecutive NBA Finals.

But after playing a full season with heavy minutes, and a playoff run with heavy minutes, the King is seemingly slowing down. Despite huge performances in almost every game, we are seeing the man known as ‘the chosen one,’ show signs of tiredness.

LeBron knows he is tired

For the first time in his career, LeBron James played a full 82-game season.

He did so in his 15th season while being 33-years-old for most of the season. This was truly incredible and he was able to sustain his level of performance all season long, averaging huge numbers in both the regular season and the postseason. But in game five of the ECF, with his team tied at 2-2 against their Eastern Conference foes, LeBron was seen with his hands on his knees and a towel over his face during the loss.

And his 26 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assist performance was, by his standards, a terrible performance.

CBS Boston reported that after the game, LeBron agreed that he is "tired" and "worn down" and added that all players should be at this stage in the season.

He "had (his) moments" during the game when he just didn’t have any energy, and it is a huge reason the Cavaliers were unable to pull out the victory.

Taking a toll

In the past seven seasons, we have seen the King play a lengthy NBA season and reach the NBA Finals and still put up tremendous stats all around the board in June. But this season, the King played in all 82 games for the first time along with 17 heavy-minutes playoff games so far this season. Most years prior, he would play roughly 76 games or so, and that would leave him with a little energy at the end of the season.

Right now the fatigue is getting to the King and he is hoping he can still make plays for his team to force a trip to the NBA Finals.

And if he is able to do so, he won’t be left with much resting time before June. He will be hoping to be in as great a shape as possible if he wants to do the impossible, and lead his team to another championship.
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