(Reuters) – The Detroit Pistons are struggling to contain LeBron James in their NBA first round playoff series on the court and are hoping getting into his head with some trash talk and rough play might give them a sniff of overturning the 2-0 deficit.
James led the Cavaliers to a 107-90 win on Wednesday, giving the Cavaliers the advantage in the best-of-seven series, despite the Pistons suggesting they have him figured out.
“I’m definitely in (LeBron’s) head, that’s for sure,” Pistons rookie forward Stanley Johnson told the Detroit News. “I wish he would just talk when (the game) is 0-0, not when he’s up 16.
“Don’t talk after you made a couple shots. Anybody can do that.”
James has been the target of mind games from before the series began with Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy stating he felt the 31-year-old was never called for offensive fouls.