LeBron downplays Finals rematch: 'I'm not going to put everything into this game'

NBA fans will receive five gifts on Christmas, but we really only want one.

The third game on the slate features a rematch of last season's Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, and there's no shortage of excitement for Friday's game.

Except, it seems, from the players themselves.

LeBron James, for example, said it was just another game on the schedule.

"The memories will come back as soon as we walk into the building," James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin on Wednesday. "But also understand that it's one of 82, and I'm not going to put everything into this game.

"Friday will not be the end of our season, like it was in June. We play Saturday and then we play Monday and Tuesday. We want to play well, going against a great caliber team, the best team in our league right now, but it's not like the season ends if we lose or if we win, or whatever the case may be."

The opposition agrees. Draymond Green says the reigning champions haven't really mentioned the rematch at all.

"We'll either finish that game 28-1 or 27-2. That's about it. ... Just another game."

The tale of the tape, however, couldn't hold more intrigue. The two teams met for a grueling six-game series in the Finals. They both sit in first place in their respective conferences. The Warriors have lost once all season and the Cavaliers are riding a six-game win streak. Cleveland's Big Three is finally healthy. They're playing on the most important day of the regular season.

Perhaps it's just self-preservation. There's no point in setting expectations only to be potentially let down. But what's the fun in that?

Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert took the right approach: Treat it like a regular season game, but it's obviously more than that.

"I can't speak for everybody else. It plays a part," Shumpert said. "But we're going to come out and approach the game like we approach all games. But, I'm salty. I am."