The hype machine that is the Miami Heat had a quick hiccup as they took on a professional team from Moscow last night. I first thought? Why would they play a Russian Basketball team? Was that the only available country to face Lebron James and co.? Could they not get Brazil or Spain or any country that basketball is thriving in? China? I went to the NBA website today to look for a job and they said "NBA in China is now hiring." Canada, maybe? Any other city besides Moscow. For this reason, I believe that Lebron may have faked an injury last night. With the logic being, it would be better to get injured in a real NBA game against a real NBA team. He knows Boston awaits.
You can hear it in the responses of LeBron. "If I had to play, I could." "Its a very, very minor injury." That sounds like he could have kept on playing, but much like the current debate in the NFL over the amount of preseason games that are played, the Miami Heat scheduling Moscow just did not seem like a good move. I can think of no positives. Is there a strong Russian population in Miami that I do not know about? I could only imagine the mind set of a superstar talent like James when facing a team like that in the preseason. I would feel that that is the last place I would want to get injured with the amount of expectations looming over the upcoming season. That is why he took himself out and did not return. In the end though he averaged just under a point a minute (22 points in 25 minutes) and continued to show that he is not a selfish superstar (7 Assists). Those stats are a full nights worth and will probably be roughly what he averages on the year. His night was finished in my book.
The hype machine will take another break tonight as LeBron and Wade rest against Charlotte because they know the real challenge awaits in Boston October 28th.
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