LeBron James is crippling opponents with mind games

LeBron James is crippling the Cleveland Cavaliers’ opponents with mind games.

Whether it was from sheer dominance, taunts, pulling jerseys, pretending to sip from beer bottles or his lighthearted demeanor postgame, as if he played nobody special in particular, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James got into the heads of the Toronto Raptors.

You can see it in the Raptors’ answers postgame, players and head coach alike.

Here’s Kyle Lowry after the Cavs won Game 3, speaking to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski:

"“They’ve got LeBron James,” Lowry told The Vertical late Friday night. “Nobody’s closing the gap on him. I mean, that’s it right there: They’ve got LeBron James and nobody’s closing the gap on him.”"

"“I don’t know when his prime is going to stop,” Lowry told The Vertical. “I don’t think it’s going to stop anytime soon. I think he’ll be able to continue what he’s doing for a long time. But that’s basketball. You’ve got to find a way to beat the best.”"

Here’s DeMar Derozan, following their loss in Game 3:

Translation: “LeBron is unstoppable”. Do opponents usually say that while they’re locked into a battle? It seems like they already left the battle, mentally at least, by the end of Game 3.

In a series that was on his last legs, the Raptors basically conceded the victory to James and the Cavs when head coach Dwane Casey announced that Kyle Lowry wouldn’t play in Game 4.

Lowry was injured in Game 2 and available in Game 3. Looking at his Game 4 status after reading his comments following Game 3, it looks like Lowry recorded a “DNP-I.QUIT”.

Lowry’s now likely going to leave the Raptors and could sign with the Denver Nuggets, who play in the Western Conference (and have a need for an All-Star level guard).

If Lowry leaves, it makes staying in Toronto less appealing for Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker, both who will be free agents this summer.

Comments like the following probably make staying in Toronto less appealing anyhow. After the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Toronto Raptors, here’s Derozan’s assessment of how the series went down:

In all of my years watching the NBA (since 2003), I’ve never heard the best player of the opposing team say that about another player. This statement almost echoes Paul George’s statement after the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Indiana Pacers in the first round though.

Following the series, George had this to say (quote transcribed by NBA.com’s Lang Whitaker):

"“It’s really frustrating to continue losing to the same team or same person,” said George. “It’s real frustrating. It’s what I work hard for in the summers to try and help lead a team along and ultimately, it’s who I am always going to see and face.”"

Larry Bird stepped down from his role as the Indiana Pacers’ President of Basketball Operations five days later.

Statements and actions like these from the Raptors and Pacers camps show just how far James has gotten into his opponents heads.

He’ll spin the rock in your face as bait and fake a sip from a beer after a missed and-one opportunity.

He’ll tug your jersey to keep you from making a mistake. Another humorous instance of James’ innocuous taunts. Here he is trying to help the other team. He’s definitely not worried about you beating him.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell said James was trying to “son him” by pulling on his jersey.

News flash:

James “sonned” Powell and the rest of the Raptors when he repeatedly barreled over them on his way to the tin, dotted their eyes with contested outside jumpers and treated the series like he was playing Bronny and Bryce in the backyard and not NBA veterans.

Powell’s answer and his chagrin at James trying to help him speaks to how deeply James had gotten into his opponents heads by Game 3. I guess when you can’t stop a guy from dropping 35 points even once in a series that’s what happens.

When future NBA fans look back on James’ dominance during this postseason run, some Toronto Raptors faithful may wonder who was guarding James in the series.

When they watch the replays, they’ll see James “sonning” Powell and the Raptors with his play, not with any jersey pulls. They’ll notice it’s exactly what happened to Indiana Pacers, as well.

James has been in his opponents’ heads during the playoffs. While John Wall and Isaiah Thomas are unlikely to make comments akin to Derozan and George’s, both teams have players on the roster that are a bit more sensitive based on the way their series has gone so far.

Look at them and you’ll probably see James in their head. Dismantling their confidence.

Related Story: LeBron James is the Michael Jordan of our generation

Do you think that LeBron James is in his opponents’ heads? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.