LeBron James is not used to losing. Why should he be? The Miami Heat had won 27 games in a row prior to Wednesday night’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. After the game, LeBron was understandably frustrated after being called for a questionable flagrant foul and having a fan try to snatch his headband. He also thought the physicality that Chicago played with crossed the line.
“First of all Kirk Hinrich in the first quarter basically grabbed me with two hands and brought me to the ground,” LeBron told reporters after the game, via CSNChicago.com. “And the last one, Taj Gibson was able to collar me around my shoulder and bring me to the ground.Those are not basketball plays and it’s been happening all year. And I was able to keep my cool and try to spell [Spoelstra], ‘Let’s not worry about it too much.’ But it is getting to me.”
It was after the Gibson foul that James lowered a shoulder into Carlos Boozer and was called for a flagrant foul. I’m sure LeBron has been dealing with physical play all season, but it’s no coincidence that we haven’t heard much from him about it.
“I’m not sitting here crying about anything,” he continued. “I play the game at a high level, I play with a lot of aggression, I understand that some of the plays are on the borderline of a basketball play or not. But sometimes, you know, I don’t know … it’s frustrating.”
Just stop right there, Bron Bron. Don’t make us think the only reason we’ve started to like you and your quirky antics is that you’ve been winning. Are we about to see the old LeBron now that the Heat can’t break the record for most consecutive regular season wins? I sure hope not.
Photo credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE
