LeBron James put Jason Terry in a poster Monday night, punctuating the Miami Heat’s 23rd straight victory, the second-longest streak in NBA history, with one of his all-time greatest dunks. According to James, the spectacular jam could not have happened on a better guy.
You see, James expressed a problem with Terry’s penchant for brash talk. So, catching an alley-oop pass and colliding midair with Terry before hammering home the dunk – and then staring down a sprawled-on-the-floor Terry for so long he received a taunting technical – was serendipitous.
“I’ve had a chance to [review] it, and it was one of my better ones,” James said. “The fact that it happened to J.T. made it that much sweeter. Because we all know J.T. and he talks too much sometimes. And I’m glad it happened to him.”
Hardly do players pile on after slamming on an opponent. There usually is a “feel-sorry” element to embarrassing a foe.
Not this time. James took it as some form of restitution toward a good player who talks better than his game.
Recall, if you will, Terry in 2011 saying said James wouldn’t be able to guard him effectively for the entire NBA Finals when the Heat challenged the Dallas Mavericks. Terry played well and the Mavs defeated Miami in the seven-game series, 4-2.
“I’m welcoming the challenge,” Terry said then. “We’re going to see if he can do it for seven games.”
Last week, Terry said he wasn’t impressed with the Heat’s then-21-game winning streak.
“[I’m] not really impressed with it or anything that they do,” Terry said.
No word on if he’s impressed with James’ memorable throw down over him.
