Ejection out of character for forward James Johnson

MIAMI —Heat forward James Johnson admitted it was out of character.

Johnson was ejected after receiving his second technical foul in last week’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. It was the first ejection of his playing career.

“We’re already shorthanded,” Johnson said. “This team doesn’t use no excuse and I don’t use no excuse. But I know personally deep down, I felt like I hurt [the team].”

Johnson was more disappointed about the second technical. On the first one, he was coming to the defense of teammate Goran Dragic. He let his emotions get the best of him in the second incident.

“Definitely out of character,” Johnson said. “The second technical was out of character. I’m more happy to get the first technical how I got my first technical looking out for my guys. That’s what we do. We’re a brotherhood. I really go hard for these guys.”

Johnson apologized for the incident. He said his frustration just reached a boil.

“I lost it. I messed up, man,” Johnson said. “I left my guys out there by themselves, and that’s the moral of the story. I just wasn’t mentally strong enough to handle that. I would more say it was built up. It was just built up. I was frustrated and instead of just taking it in and being the man that I am, I let it get the best of me.” [strength coach and I wanted to get in the best shape that I could possibly be in. That’s what the Miami Heat is about, anyway. That’s the standard here so I put that extra work in, running and in the weight room, doing cardio and it’s paying off for me big time.”

Ellington has maintained peak physical shape despite being sidelined most of the season with a quad injury. He said eating healthy helped when his activity was limited.

“I followed a pretty strict diet,” Ellington said. “I didn’t overeat. I stayed disciplined. I knew it was going to be tough for me not being able to run and not

Bill Foran]

being able to ride the bike. That’s one thing I could control, my eating habits.”

Ellington has already noticed the benefits. He’s averaging 15 points and shooting 37 percent from the 3-point line since returning Nov. 28.

“I’m in the best shape of my career,” Ellington said. “I can be out there longer. I’m more efficient. The better shape I am, the harder I am to guard, the better defender I am. It’s completed my all-around game. It’s really helped me.”

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/AP James Johnson, seen last month in Denver, was ejected for the first time in his career last week.