Stanley Johnson Definitely In LeBron's Head According to Stanley Johnson

LeBron James shot 12-of-18 from the field on his way to scoring 27 points in a game 2 win over the Pistons on Wednesday. He also bumped one of the Stans that this series is not about.

After the game, 19-year old rookie Stanley Johnson explained that he was in LeBron’s head. Via Freep:

"“He didn’t bump me, I just didn’t move my direction. I don’t know what ya’ll see from that; I didn’t take anything from it but a cheap-ass shot. Cheap-ass bump.” “I wish he would just talk when he’s like zero-zero, not when he’s up 16 and already got it going,” Johnson said. “That means something. That means you’re more confident in yourself. You believe what you’re about to do. Don’t talk after you’ve made a couple of shots. Anybody can do that.”"

He also pointed out that the Cavs’ bench talks too much.

"“He jabbers, he moves his mouth some time,” Johnson said. “The whole team does like they’re little cheerleaders on the bench anytime you walk in the right corner. They’re always something like they’re playing basketball in the game. Only seven or eight players play for them. I don’t see why the others get talking. They might as well just be in the stands.”"

It should be noted that the Cavs and Pistons are both basically using 9-man rotations this series. (Channing Frye played for the first time last night.) I guess Johnson thinks Spencer Dinwiddie and Jodie Meeks playing garbage time on Wednesday makes the Pistons deep.

For some reason, ESPN focused on some other quotes from Johnson that were a lot less inflammatory.

"“I could care less if I’m in his head or in his mind or anything like that,” Johnson said. “I’m just trying to play basketball. It’s up to him how he wants to react to whatever he does. I think I’m in a good place. He had a great night. He’s had a couple great nights. He made a couple tough-ass shots. “He hit two 3’s, which is not, like, his norm. He hit a tough-ass turnaround on me, and he played really physical. I battled physical. He didn’t get any paint touches. He made a bunch of tough shots. So he’s going to have to go 40 minutes and make those same tough shots every game for them to do what they did tonight.”"

That actually sounds a lot more realistic. And James bumping into Johnson certainly suggests that even if he’s not distracted by Johnson he is aware of the rookie and went out of his way to send a message. It will be interesting to see if the Pistons can win at home on Friday and give Johnson an actual reason to be confident.