CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James is attacking the paint more than ever this postseason, but he hasn't been rewarded with trips to the free-throw line.
In five playoff games this year, James has only gone to the line 16 times, and the four-time MVP is of the mindset that it should be a lot more than that.
"I know I'm getting hit, grabbed and pushed just like everybody else out on the floor," he said. "But at the end of the day, I can't worry about that or [let it] stop me from being in the paint. I've shot the least amount of free throws in my playoff career so far to start off a playoff series, and I've probably lived in the paint more than any year. So, I don't know. The only thing I can do is control what I can control."
There is clear frustration.
James said the reason he's hanging around the painted area more frequently is to keep the team's offensive flow "well-balanced." He said he'll continue playing that way regardless of whether a whistle is blown or not.
Nevertheless, there's one call he wishes the officials got right in that Game 1 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
"Obviously late in the game, last game, you guys saw me get smacked in the face on one of my drives with a no-call," James reminded the media scrum. "I can't really let it get the best of me. I've just got to continue to go in there and hopefully I get a couple when the game is coming soon."
Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals is tonight at 8 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena.
The officials haven't had the best postseason and the multiple blunders in the San Antonio-Oklahoma City series have topped the cake. All in all, James wasn't too critical of the officials. He said each officiating crew calls the game differently and says it's up to the players to adjust.
But a foul is a foul, and if James is being pounded on like he's always been throughout his career, he should be sent to the charity stripe. If the opponent recognizes it can get away with hacking, that could send the wrong message.
It could lead to open season.
"They won't get to me," James said. "I continue to get up. I'm not worried about that."