The New York Knicks easily defeated the Miami Heat by a score of 112-92 on Thursday night, marking the first time this season that the defending NBA champions have lost back-to-back games. From a numbers standpoint, LeBron James did his part. He scored 31 points on 11-for-20 shooting from the field (3-for-5 from three-point range) and grabbed 10 rebounds. However, LeBron was not satisfied with his individual performance or that of the team.
After the game, LeBron let off some steam by lifting weights and venting to reporters about his team’s second loss to the Knicks this season.
“They kicked our ass. They have pretty much dominated us in two games,” James said after his workout, via the Palm Beach Post. “We’ve got work to do. We can’t act like, OK, let’s just sweep this under the rug. We’ve got a lot of work to do. New York is a real team, they’ve got some real good players, and we understand that.
“I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to be better. It’s that simple. I’m here, and I’m the last one to leave.”
Miami’s performance against the 14-4 Knicks is a good indicator of where they stack up, considering New York looks like one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. Some of the Heat players already admitted they are struggling to find motivation after capturing the title last season, which is normal for any championship team early in the year. If LeBron continues to lead by example and give 110% on a nightly basis, I wouldn’t bet against Miami reaching the NBA Finals for a third straight season.
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
