INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James had little interest in rehashing his 11-point performance in the Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, the morning of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
"Past it," James said after Cavs shootaround. "I'm focused on Game 4. We know what we did wrong in Game 3. We know ways we can get better. I'm focused on the present, not the past."
James had his fourth-lowest-scoring game of his 210-game postseason career Sunday, going scoreless in the final 16:31 of game time as an Isaiah Thomas-less Boston squad battled back from a 21-point third-quarter deficit to avoid going down 3-0 in the series.
After the game, James reasoned that some adversity could be a good thing for the Cavs, considering their 10-0 start to the playoffs offered minimal resistance.
James was asked how he has been able to respond to adversity with success in the past.
"I've always stayed even-keeled," James said. "At the end of the day it's just basketball. You understand that I put in a lot of work to my craft. I've always trusted that. I've always leaned on my teammates at times as well. For me mentally I've always focused on the present and not worried about the situation. You just live in the moment."
The four-time MVP was brief with the media, keeping his answers straight to the point and cracking only a brief smile when the subject shifted to his longtime teammate, James Jones, whom he dubbed "Nostradamus" because of his penchant for "watching things kind of unfold" and predicting plays based on his years of experience.
James said reviewing the film from Game 3 was not "tough to watch" because it was clear what changed the game in the second half.
"We had opportunities," James said. "It is what it is. They played a helluva game and they took it to us and we weren't able to stop the runs that they made, the momentum that they [built]. Some of the plays that we made, some of the plays that I made, I was like, 'What are we doing?' or 'What could I have done better?' But you figure out the next game and go forward."
James was also asked about his comment after Game 3 when he said the loss could prompt Cleveland to play "desperate" basketball again.
"I mean, listen, you've got to be smart about it," James said. "We have a great game plan and we look forward to the matchup."
The short media availability session finished with a reporter asking James what the keys would be for Game 4.
"Win," James said, before walking away from the group of reporters and across the practice court.