LeBron James looks for closeout win in Michael Jordan's old home

CHICAGO -- Back in the United Center for a potential closeout Game 6 in the building affectionately known as "The House that Michael Jordan built," LeBron James admitted that the place puts MJ on his mind.

"I do think about what he was able to accomplish, but I don't think about comparable," James said before the Cleveland Cavaliers' shootaround Thursday in advance of their Eastern Conference semifinals game against the Chicago Bulls. "I don't focus on that. But definitely, during the national anthem, things of that nature, I get caught looking up there [in the rafters], looking at the championship banners and looking at his jersey retired. You know, absolutely, it's impossible for me not to. He's a guy that I always admired and looked up to growing up."

James wears No. 23 of course, just like Mike, and his 38 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists in Game 5 against the Bulls tied him with Jordan for first all-time in playoff games with at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists. They have each done it 51 times.

Despite the clear connections, James said he doesn't dwell too much on the parallels between him and Jordan.

"I guess, I mean, not really, I don't know," James said. "I don't really like, base my career off someone else's and what they was able to do to a franchise."

And James is now playing Jordan's former team in the postseason once again, on the verge of going 4-0 in four playoff series with Chicago.

"For me, the seeding is how they are when I just, you know, happen to align with, be aligned with these guys multiple times and I just try to be successful, not just against this franchise but against any franchise in the postseason," James said.

James' teammate, Kyrie Irving, wasn't even born when Jordan won his first championship, but he spoke in reverential tones about the Hall of Fame shooting guard.

"This is where history was made," Irving said. "The greatest player ever playing made history in front of great Bulls fans along with a dynasty that will forever live on. I as a basketball player, I grew up in a different generation with Kobe [Bryant] and Bron and all these other guys: Tracy McGrady, A.I. [Allen Iverson]I didn't really get to see MJ. So I think my generation, when we have this debate between who's the best and we talk with people like you guys and we bring up all these other names, you guys saw MJ play live. If you guys were kids or my age, it's a different feel. But history was created here, which I'm truly be appreciative to be a part of a league that had guys like that come before me."