James lets it slide with Mohammed, Thibodeau

CHICAGO — In the end, LeBron James let it slide.

Not only after a two-handed shove from Nazr Mohammed that left the Bulls center ejected with 9:29 to play inthe second quarter of Friday’s 104-94 Heat victory in Game 4 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series, but also after learning that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau had accused him of flopping.

James declined to address the flopping charge, such a judgment now left in the hands of the NBA office, which can issue a $5,000 sanction for such a violation.

Of not going back at Mohammed, the Heat’s AllStar forward said, “I sat right there, let my teammates help me up. I mean way too much to my teammates to try to retaliate. Don’t make no sense.”

Of the incident, which left each player with a technical foul, with Mohammed also called for a personal foul, James said, “I saw him hawking me down for a long time and I saw him coming with one of those club fouls, which is unnecessary. I just tried to protect myself and stand my ground. It definitely surprised me.”

Coach Erik Spoelstra gave his players Saturday off, with no further opportunity for James to delve into Thibodeau’s comment.

On all counts, though, James pled not guilty.

“I’m here to play basketball,” he said. “Not here to do nothing else.

“If it would have happened on the playground, it would have been a different story, because I had a bunch of friends that would have not allowed that.”

LeBron James