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James slams Ibaka, Heat a win from title
Source: AFP |
June 21, 2012, Thursday
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LEBRON James fired back at Serge Ibaka, calling him "stupid" after the Oklahoma City forward said people were giving James too much credit in the NBA finals for his defensive play.
"I don't really care what he says, he's stupid," James said at Tuesday morning's practice. "Everyone says something to me every series, then (the media) tries to get a quote. It's stupid."
Ibaka, who is considered one of the top defensive players on the Thunder, told the Palm Beach Post, "LeBron is not a good defender. He can play defense for two to three minutes but not 48. LeBron can't play (Kevin Durant) one-on-one."
James and Ibaka were both on the NBA's All-Defensive Team this season.
Three-time league MVP James has drawn high praise in the 2012 postseason for the way he has shut down the other teams' top scorers like Durant and forced them to take fouls.
Congo's Ibaka, who is in his third season, has a league leading 56 blocks in 18 playoff games this season.
A limping, grimacing James shook off the pain of leg cramps to hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer and the Heat held on to edge the Thunder 104-98 later in the evening to take a 3-1 series lead in the NBA finals. No team has ever blown a 3-1 lead in the finals, so James' resilient basket with 2:51 remaining looks likely to be the moment that clinches the title for the Heat.
"He was hurting," teammate Dwyane Wade said. "But that's what it's about this time of the year. It would hurt more if we lose the ballgame, so it feels a little better if you can win it."
Game 5 is tonight and James will have a chance to finish a nine-year chase that started in Cleveland before he left for South Florida before last season.
"Of course it's there to think about," said James, making it clear he plans to play. "I'll be ready for Game 5."
Mario Chalmers finished off a stellar 25-point effort that matched Wade. James had 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, missing a shot at a triple-double only because he was on the bench at the end with cramps.
"I don't really care what he says, he's stupid," James said at Tuesday morning's practice. "Everyone says something to me every series, then (the media) tries to get a quote. It's stupid."
Ibaka, who is considered one of the top defensive players on the Thunder, told the Palm Beach Post, "LeBron is not a good defender. He can play defense for two to three minutes but not 48. LeBron can't play (Kevin Durant) one-on-one."
James and Ibaka were both on the NBA's All-Defensive Team this season.
Three-time league MVP James has drawn high praise in the 2012 postseason for the way he has shut down the other teams' top scorers like Durant and forced them to take fouls.
Congo's Ibaka, who is in his third season, has a league leading 56 blocks in 18 playoff games this season.
A limping, grimacing James shook off the pain of leg cramps to hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer and the Heat held on to edge the Thunder 104-98 later in the evening to take a 3-1 series lead in the NBA finals. No team has ever blown a 3-1 lead in the finals, so James' resilient basket with 2:51 remaining looks likely to be the moment that clinches the title for the Heat.
"He was hurting," teammate Dwyane Wade said. "But that's what it's about this time of the year. It would hurt more if we lose the ballgame, so it feels a little better if you can win it."
Game 5 is tonight and James will have a chance to finish a nine-year chase that started in Cleveland before he left for South Florida before last season.
"Of course it's there to think about," said James, making it clear he plans to play. "I'll be ready for Game 5."
Mario Chalmers finished off a stellar 25-point effort that matched Wade. James had 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, missing a shot at a triple-double only because he was on the bench at the end with cramps.
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