The Cleveland Cavaliers saw their series shift dramatically after losing both away games, allowing the Toronto Raptors to level things at 2-2 following a 93-89 defeat last Sunday.
That turnaround has increased pressure on Cleveland’s leading players, with expectations rising as the series heads into its decisive phase.
Amid that scrutiny, former NBA star Joe Johnson offered insight into why one of the Cavs’ key figures continues to face questions when the playoffs arrive.
‘Iso Joe’, a seven-time NBA All-Star, drew a striking comparison between the Cavs star’s postseason reputation and that of NFL quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson, despite his regular season success with the Baltimore Ravens, has often faced criticism over his playoff performances.
Johnson believes a similar narrative surrounds Cleveland’s player, with past experiences shaping how he is judged on the biggest stage.
“They scrutinize James because they know the situations he’s been in the past during the postseason. So every time he’s in the postseason, they are going to watch,” Johnson said on Nightcap Show (via NBA Courtside).
“It’s kind of like when you look at Lamar Jackson and know he’s going to be great during the regular season. But hell, in the postseason can he win us some games? Can we get to the Super Bowl? It’s similar to that.”
The Cavs star’s recent displays underline that inconsistency across the series.
He delivered strong performances at Rocket Arena, scoring 22 points with 10 assists in the opener and following it with 28 points in Game 2.
However, his output dipped significantly on the road, managing 18 and 19 points respectively in the two defeats.
Turnovers also became an issue, with 15 recorded across those losses, adding to Cleveland’s struggles.
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