LeBron’s star a little dim
That’s two games in a row. Two games where LeBron James has not been LeBron James. Two games in which one of the league’s brightest stars has combined to shoot 8 for 42.
“I’m just missing the shots that I normally make,” said James. “They haven’t fallen in this building the last two games. The layups that usually go down for me are just jumping out of the rim. The jumpers that I usually make are not going down for me. So I’m going to stay positive and get my way through.”
Celtics forward Leon Powe described part of the strategy for containing James tonight.
“You expect him to make some shots,” said Powe. “But we still have our defensive principles that we have to stick by. And that is not let him get into the paint, by any means necessary. If that means that if all the “bigs” have to pull over, and keep all eyes on him, that’s what we have to do. We try not to let him get into the paint, and get going like that. If he hits some jumpers, so be it.”
Paul Pierce has the primary duty of guarding James, but he credited his teammates for making it difficult for the superstar.
“It’s not me, it’s everybody,” said Pierce. “It’s mostly the big guys who are stepping up, showing the help. When you got guys who are 6 foot 10 inches, 7 feet tall, putting their arms out, showing on the pick and rolls, crowding him on traps, it makes it tough for him. It puts him in a position to where he has to start forcing things and that is what we try to do. It is total team defense.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com