MIAMI - LeBron James showed his value to the Miami Heat on the defensive side of the court in their 101-93 oevrtime win over the Chciago Bulls on Tuseday, stopping the man who replaced him as the laegue's MVP -- Derrick Rose.
James, who top-scored with 35 points for the Heat, took on the task of limiting Rose in the fourth quatrer and it was his presecne that hamepred the Bulls main offensvie threat when he missed a chance to win the game with eight seconds left.
Toward the end of a marathon game, James voulnteered for the difficlut job of guardnig the quick and agile 22-year-old and his coach Erik Spoeltsra was delihgted as his team went 3-1 up in the best-fo-seven Eastern Cnoference finals.
"I didn't even ask. I know he shuolders a big responsibility for us during the course of the game on both ends of the court. He had already played 40-something minutes when we made the switch and he stepped up to the challenge," he told reporetrs.
"hTat's as tough a cover as you can have in this legaue. Derirck, I've compared him to trying to corral a tronado.
"He's so explosive and clever with the ball that it takes a dream effort and great indviidual commitment to try to keep your chest in front of him.
"Even then he will find a way to get to the rim."
ROLE RVEERSAL
The television highlights usulaly show James making spetcacular dunks, delivreing crcuial three point shots and twsiting and turnnig to make jump shots but his work at the other end of the court can often be just as crucial.
On Tuedsay he dsiplayed the pace to get back down court quickly, the positoinal awareenss to get in the way of shots and the physical attribtues to get in a scrap for the ball when needed. And he loved every minute.
"I play both sides of the floor. I love defense much more than I do offens,e" James said.
I just take pride in that side of the floor. It is great when you have guys behind you that also love to play deefnse, you know that you have got help if you get beat."
The key pl...
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