LeBron James created the non-storiest of non-stories Sunday, when he responded to Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel referring to the Miami Heat as “just another team”. Unfortunately for LeBron, that’s not what Vogel said at all. He referred to the Heat as “just the next team” — a less dismissive comment, and one that also happens to be 100% accurate as the Heat are, in fact, the next team the Pacers will be playing:
“It’s exciting, but this is not about getting back at Miami,” Vogel said when asked about facing the Heat. “You’re in the final four, you’re competing for a championship. You’re competing for a championship. And they’re just the next team that’s in our way. And that’s how we’re approaching it.”
Whatever LeBron thinks Vogel was insinuating with those comments, he blew it out of proportion with his response:
“We’re not just another team,” James said. “I don’t understand what he’s saying. But we’re not just another team. That’s not true. He said we’re just another team in their way. We’re a great team. If we’re just another team, you really don’t prepare for just another team. You have to prepare for us.”
Maybe it’s a Jordan-esque motivation tactic, spinning a relatively pedestrian comment into a greater slight, but, as always, context is key. Well, that, and knowing what was originally said.
[ESPN]
About John Ferensen