LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra stonewall reporter after Game 3 loss
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsCI3jCeFsA?rel=0&w=600&h=338]
MIAMI -- A blowout loss to the Spurs stung badly enough that the Heat didn't want to hear all about it afterwards.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and even coach Erik Spoelstra provided memorable reactions to long-winded, pointed questions about Miami's rough night in a 111-92 loss to San Antonio on Tuesday.
The exchanges both occurred with a reporter identifying himself as "Bobby Ramos of Bottom Line."
Miami's two all-stars attempted to hold back laughter and defer the task of answering the question to each other, while Spoelstra opted for a very Gregg Popovich-esque one-word response. James never actually answered his question, instead allowing Wade to take one for the team.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhCJ3eQ8kRo?rel=0&w=600&h=338]
Here are the exchanges in full. Check the videos above for the full experience.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
Q. This is for both of you, you have a great defense. They're averaging 104 points a game. You have a lot of offense, you haven't broken a hundred yet. Is the problem your lackluster defense or is it the problems you're having offensively, lackluster offense?
DWYANE WADE: The problem is we're down 2 games to 1. That is the problem. We've got to figure out how to tie it up.
Erik Spoelstra
Q. Coach, you gave San Antonio the credit, and you mentioned a couple times that you're in The Finals. How does a team in their fourth Finals come out in The Finals, their first home game and get beat to the ball to get stomped the way they did? The kind of heart that your championship team has, to come out tonight like they did mentally has to be something that's a problem.
COACH ERIK SPOELSTRA: Clearly.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the Heat were a little short on patience, as the Spurs dictated the action throughout Game 3. The 19-point win marked San Antonio's largest road victory of the postseason and restored home-court advantage in the series. The Heat lost for the first time in nine home playoff games this year and suffered their worst defeat at AmericanAirlines Arena of the season.
James finished with 22 points, seven assists and five rebounds, but he committed a postseason-high seven turnovers in the loss.
San Antonio now holds a 2-1 series lead over Miami. Game 4 is set for Thursday.