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LeBron: 'I don't think Boston fans need any more pumping up'

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

A LeBron James team hasn't lost a playoff series to the Boston Celtics in three tries, but The King is aware of how seriously Beantown fans take their teams going into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday.

"I don't think Boston fans need any more pumping up," James said when asked if the series would make the TD Garden crowd any more enthusiastic than usual, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "They're born with 'pump,' if that makes any sense."

Boston's "big four" pro sports teams have accounted for 10 championships since 2002, and the Celtics finished with the East's top record this season - in addition to winning Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery.

As a result, the Celtics have home-court advantage over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yet the teams split two regular-season games in Boston, and in their last meeting there Apr. 5, James scored 36 points in a 114-91 Cleveland win.

James also doesn't believe the Cavs' 10-day layoff after eliminating the Toronto Raptors will leave them rusty.

"Getting into the flow ... It shouldn't be too hard," James said. "These fans and this atmosphere and this team that we're playing against should put us right back where we need to be."

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