Lance: I need to control myself, 'tame' LeBron

Lance Stephenson has already been told by his teammate and his coach that he needs to better control his emotions, and he appears to have heeded their message as he prepares for Game 3 of his Indiana Pacers' first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"Sometimes I tend to get out of control," Stephenson told reporters Wednesday, according to Clifton Brown of the Indy Star. "I was getting frustrated with Kevin Love scoring on me. But that's the passion I have for the game."

Stephenson was referring to a disastrous stretch in Game 2 in which he was tasked with guarding the much larger Love, who the Cavs continued feeding in the post until the Pacers mercifully adjusted.

"I need to stop showing it," Stephenson said. "If somebody’s scoring on you and you show frustration, they're going to keep going to it. I felt like I showed that. That's what Paul (George) was talking about. Don't show them no weakness."

While Stephenson will focus on keeping himself in check as the series shifts back to Indiana, he's more concerned with controlling LeBron James, who has roasted the Pacers for 57 points, 16 rebounds, and 20 assists, on 57.5 percent shooting, through two games.

"You just gotta tame him," Stephenson told USA Today's Michael Singer ahead of Thursday's Game 3. "He's playing so well right now. His jump shot has really improved. Just gotta get into him, make him pass the ball. Make his teammates make decisions."

Stephenson has spent some time in the first two games as James' primary defender, and, like most who deign to take on that assignment, it hasn't gone particularly well.

All the same, Stephenson has been one of the best Pacers so far in the series, averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and a steal. Indiana has actually outscored Cleveland when he's been on the floor, and they've been nearly 17 points per 100 possessions worse with him on the bench.

"I don't want to take his passion from the game," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said. "We always have to control ourselves, that's including myself on the sidelines. Sometimes that can become a distraction. We talk about that all the time. You can't be drunk on emotions out there. We got to be able to get back, get to the next play."