Can Lance make the Cavaliers dance one last time?

Lance Stephenson’s numbers are slightly better on the road in these playoffs; an encouraging sign as the Indiana Pacers visit the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 7.

Lance Stephenson is so hateable if you aren’t an Indiana Pacers fan. The antics, the flops, just generally being Lance. For LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, he is a pain in the ass.

Lance vs LeBron isn’t a rivalry so much that it is a sideshow. James is one of the greatest players to ever play the game, and Stephenson is a player that bounced between five teams in three seasons; rarely, if ever, making a significant impact.

But there’s been something slightly different this series. Lance is still Lance, there is no doubt about that, but for the first time, Stephenson is actually getting under his LeBron’s skin.

In the past, LeBron retaliated against Lance mostly in the flow of play. Whether that was getting a little rough with him or just reminding everyone he was the best player in the NBA, James never seemed more than annoyed by Stephenson.

But this series, James picked up a technical — not part of a double-technical — for shoving Stephenson without much provocation. He has pushed Stephenson at least three times in this series and for the most part, you could say Lance baited him into it.

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Maybe it’s because he’s dragging the dead weight known as the rest of the Cavaliers that James is testier. Maybe he just finally got tired of dealing the shenanigans. But it’s not the same way LeBron would dismiss Stephenson in the past.

This isn’t to say Stephenson finally ‘got in his head,’ but if nothing else James has less patience for Lance than in previous meetings. LeBron is still getting the best of Stephenson one-on-one, but Stephenson is at least slowing him down more.

Stephenson’s scoring numbers are slightly better on the road this series — 11.3 points on 50 percent shooting vs 10.7 points on 41.9 percent shooting — but his overall effect was muted away from Bankers Life Fieldhouse. While his plus-minus is in the positive for both, Stephenson grabs half as many rebounds and hands out nearly two fewer assists on the road.

We know Lance Stephenson is just a better player when he wears an Indiana Pacers jersey and he is even better still when he plays in Indiana. Unfortunately for the Pacers, Game 7 is being played in Cleveland. But if he can do more than just be a thorn in LeBron’s side today, then the Pacers might move on to face the Toronto Raptors in the second round.

Next: Darren Collison thrives as supporting cast member

Is Lance Stephenson ready for this? He was and still is, Born Ready.