LeBron is not getting caught up in the numbers of the series.
The Los Angeles Lakers are two wins away from the second round, but LeBron James isn't thinking about that yet.
After the Lakers' 101-94 Game 2 win over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night, James was asked about the 2-0 series lead.
His response was about as focused as it gets.
"It means nothing," James said. "The series not won until you win 4. It's the first to 4. Not the first to 2. But our only mindset is Game 3. I live for this moment. I live for the postseason."
LeBron Is Carrying This Team
James has been the best all around player on the floor through two games, and it's not particularly close.
He put up 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in Game 2 after posting 19 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists in the opener, averaging 23.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 10.0 assists for the series.
He's doing all of this at 41 years old without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, both sidelined since April 2.
The fourth-seeded Lakers finished the regular season 53-29 and were supposed to be vulnerable heading into the postseason without their two leading scorers.
Instead, James has turned back the clock and willed this group to a commanding lead over a Rockets team that went 52-30 and owns one of the best defensive units in the league.
Marcus Smart has been the perfect complement alongside him, exploding for 25 points with five threes and seven assists in Game 2 after a solid 15-point outing in the opener.
Luke Kennard has been just as important, pouring in 23 points in Game 2 after his career playoff-high 27-point night in Game 1.
The Lakers' supporting cast has bought in completely, and that collective effort has allowed them to thrive without their two biggest stars.
What Comes Next in Houston
Winning two at home is one thing. Taking at least one in Houston is where this series gets defined.
The Rockets are a different team at Toyota Center, where they went 30-11 during the regular season, and Ime Udoka's group will bring a level of desperation the Lakers haven't faced yet.
Kevin Durant returned for Game 2 and scored 23 points, but only three came in the second half as the Lakers' defense clamped down when it mattered most.
Houston shot just 40.4 percent from the field and went 7-for-29 from three as a team, and if that shooting carries over to their own floor, the Rockets are in serious trouble.
For the Lakers, the recipe stays the same. They need to keep defending at the level that has carried them through both home wins, keep the ball moving, and let James orchestrate.
He doesn't need to score 30 every night to control the game, and that's what he's been doing through two games.
Game 3 tips off Friday night at Toyota Center.