He wasn't exaggerating. Concerned about dehydration, Cavs team doctors gave James fluids intravenously in the locker room to help him recover from the 51-minute pounding in the double-overtime Eastern Conference finals victory over the Detroit Pistons.

"It was just a precautionary measure, our doctors and trainers thought just so he wouldn't cramp up on the plane," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "Because he was pretty taxed physically after that contest."

Brown gave all the Cavs the day off Friday, not even calling a meeting for film work as usual. The team didn't arrive at Hopkins Airport until 2:20 a.m. Friday morning even though it was just a 23-minute trip.

Brown believes James and the rest of the team will be recovered and ready to play tomorrow night in Game 6, when they attempt to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in team history.

"With him being as young as he is and strong as he is, mentally and physically, he should be ready to go tomorrow night," Brown said.

McDyess spared

After reviewing the game film, NBA Vice President Stu Jackson decided not to suspend Pistons forward Antonio McDyess for Game 6 after he was ejected for a flagrant foul-penalty 2 on Anderson Varejao in Game 5.