So, Nets forward Reggie Evans must have been feeling a little frisky on Wednesday morning. During Brooklyn's shootaround media availability, Evans told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News that LeBron James is no different than Andray Blatche and Joe Johnson:
“Our team is defending the Miami Heat. If our team has to defend one person, LeBron isn’t going to score nothing. …LeBron is no different from Joe Johnson or Andray Blatche. No different,” Brooklyn’s starting power forward said. “People need help (on defense). Some people don’t need help. Everybody has to be double-teamed, it doesn’t matter who you are. You just have to stop LeBron in transition.
“He’s quick in transition. If you look at Joe Johnson -- Joe Johnson has two or three people trying to stop him. Whoever is guarding him.”
The Nets, winners of eight straight games at home, are 13-4 since interim coach P.J. Carlesimo took over for Avery Johnson. A victory on Wednesday night against the Heat would tie the Nets for the third longest home-winning streak in franchise history. It would seem that Evans has made pulling it off a little more difficult. LeBron was already motivated for his first game in Brooklyn, but now he might drop 45 points in his debut at Barclays Center.
But Evans didn't just downplay James' ability on Wednesday morning. He also seemed to question the legitimacy of the Heat's championship last season. From Bondy's blog post:
The Heat is just another team and LeBron is just another player to Reggie Evans, who indicated Miami’s title run last season is diminished because the schedule was shortened.
“It doesn’t prove nothing,” Evans told the Daily News when asked what it would mean to beat the defending champs. “That was a lockout season.”
James was asked about Evans' remarks during the Heat's shootaround at Barclays Center.
"Who said it?" James said.
"Reggie Evans," answered a reporter.
"Right."
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