James rips Kirilenko for Leflops
Frustrated, fouled out and driven to the point of running at a Nets player after the whistle, LeBron James thought he was cheated by the refs and an exaggerating Andrei Kirilenko in the Nets’ 104-95 double-overtime victory Friday at the Barclays Center.
“I thought Kirilenko flopped a few times,” said James, who fouled out for just the sixth time in his career. “To be honest, I thought he flopped and he got the call. I thought the last one that fouled me out (against Shaun Livingston) could have been a foul for sure. …But Kirienko definitely flopped on me a couple times and got the call.”
His postgame comments were just another sign that James was frustrated. With 8:37 remaining in regulation and the Heat making a run, Nets forward Mirza Teletovic wrapped his arms around James’ neck in an effort to stop a layup. James took exception to the foul, running aggressively into Teletovic’s face.
Players pulled back James, while Teletovic threw his hands up in the air and smiled. After the review, the refs ruled that Teletovic – the 28-year-old Bosnian – had committed a flagrant foul.
“What’s my take?” James said. “He went around my neck. That was my take. It’s not a basketball play.”
UP TO THE MINUTES?
The Nets may have won another big game, but healthy and able bodies could be an issue for Saturday’s back-to-back at Toronto. The entire starting lineup played more than 30 minutes, and three players (Livingston, Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson) played more than 40. It’s unlikely that Kevin Garnett, who played 36 minutes, will make the trip to Toronto.
Four players who could see a lot of time in Toronto — Mason Plumlee, Tyshawn Taylor, Reggie Evans and Jason Terry – each played less than 20 minutes against the Heat.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Friday night represented the first game with players wearing their nicknames on the back of their uniforms, a money grab for the NBA and a chance for Terry – AKA “The JET” — to show off something he’s proud about.
“When you have a cool nickname like ‘The JET,’ it makes it extra special,” he said. “But, as you know, you can’t give yourself a nickname. It has to be given to you.”
So how did Terry get his nickname? “I was born with it. Jason Eugene Terry. J.E.T.”
Some of players have well-known nicknames such as Garnett (Big Ticket), James (King James) and Paul Pierce (Truth). Others just seemed to be winging it – Andray Blatche (Dray Live), Plumlee (Plums), Teletovic (MT3).