Magic guard Anthony Johnson responded Monday to the "cheap shot"accusations made by both Cleveland's LeBron James and Mo Williams after Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals in Orlando.
Johnson got called for a Flagrant I foul on his drive to the basket when he nailed Williams in the face with an elbow, opening a bloody, four-stitch cut on his face. Williams also was called for a personal foul.
"Duck next time," essentially was Johnson's message to Williams. There was no apology, no sense of remorse.
"Elbows are part of the game. Good and bad," Johnson said Monday at the Magic's practice facility. "Sometimes they turn out in a bad manner, but elbows are part of the game, as in hockey, as in other sports."
Williams, meanwhile, said there would be no retaliatory play when the series resumes Tuesday. The Magic lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1, after Sunday's victory. Williams also predicted – actually guaranteed – Monday that the Cavs still will win the series.
"They [Magic] are one of the four best teams still in the playoffs," Williams said. "We are the best team.''
Williams spoke to the media at the team's hotel Monday. He was wearing dark sunglasses, which partially hid the bandages both below and above his eye where the cuts were located. He declined to remove the glasses to show the extent of the damage incurred by the blow.
"I look like Larry Holmes," he said.
The Cavs, the No. 1 seed in the East and with the best regular season record in the NBA, are facing a must-win game Tuesday, still trying to get more balance in their attack to provide enough help for James, who is averaging 41.7 points in the series.
The Magic, meanwhile, are licking their chops, knowing they can win this series just by winning their remaining home games.
"It's nothing personal," Johnson continued. "Just two teams trying to win and two competitors playing rough. I was totally surprised by the [flagrant] call. Like any series, it's gets testy, feisty. [Williams] has been making a lot of statements, but that's not how you win games. If we go up 3-1, we can put a stranglehold on this series."
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, meanwhile, bristled at the suggestion that Johnson's blow to the face of Williams was anything more than inadvertent. He said it's the Cavs who are trying to win by bending the rules.
"I'm upset at the number of times they are flopping," Van Gundy said. "Mo Williams and Ben Wallace are falling down more than a baby just learning to walk."
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Orlando Magic forward Mickael Pietrus reacts after being fouled during action against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers, 99-89, at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, Sunday, May 24, 2009. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)
MCT
Musical entertainers Usher, left, and Chris Brown share a conversation during the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals between the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. The Magic won 99-89. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) is fouled by Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, of Lithuania, in the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. Orlando won 99-89.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
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Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) throws down a dunk in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo Williams in the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. Orlando won 99-89.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
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Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu, left, of Turkey, and Rashard Lewis congratulate each other at the end of the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. The Magic won 99-89. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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PGA golfer Tiger Woods watches Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. Orlando won 99-89.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
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Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, right, goes up for a shot past Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, of Lithuania, in the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. Orlando won 99-89.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
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Musical entertainers Usher, left, and Chris Brown share a conversation during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals between the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. The Magic won 99-89. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, left, and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard share a few words during a timeout in the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. The Magic won 99-89. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Musical entertainer Usher, left, shows actor Chris Tucker his cell phone during the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals between the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, May 24, 2009. The Magic won 99-89. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-25-2009 @ 7:42PM
mrcaring4u said...
It just goes to show that you are a very ignorant person.With a name like duke,what else can one suspect.Ignorance is running rampant with you.Don't bother to respond,i will not stoop to your level which is too low for me.Enjoy life.
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 7:53PM
mtnhog said...
Duke grow up. Your ignorance is amazing. You give all white people a bad reputation. Get a life. Black and white we have fought for your freedom. Why don't you excercise some judgement and keep your racist view points to yourself.
Reply
5-25-2009 @ 8:17PM
Dave D. said...
I'm impressed with the way Stan Van Gundy needles the refs and gets the media on his side. I think he's a really good coach overall -- his team's always seem prepared for the other teams' sets, he runs excellent plays, and he manages substitutions near-perfectly, but he's especially mastered complaining about the refs.
Between the flopping on a night when Howard fouled out and LeBron's "phantom fouls" on a night with too many free throws, he knows just what buttons to push to help his team (not that I like that ref-baiting is a necessary part of the game).
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5-25-2009 @ 8:09PM
Pasko said...
Who cares.
The NBA is unwatchable.
Reply
5-26-2009 @ 1:38AM
yellowlab1002 said...
Bout time for James to "croak" or is it "choke"?
The guy is a legend in his own mind.
Reply
5-26-2009 @ 7:31AM
jcelvis1 said...
Once again we see that a "one man team" and a "one man game" will not make it in the NBA. It is not watchable and a team with a team concept will win the majority of the time.
Reply
5-26-2009 @ 8:04AM
danno said...
fake.. fake..there all rigged!!strange how they alway's go to the final game..baseball, basketball what-ever all fixed...quit paying attention 5 year's ago,,if you pay close attention you also will see it's the almighty dollar...
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5-26-2009 @ 12:12PM
avillan said...
If Lebron wants to be a great player, he needs to stop flopping and acting. He doesn't need to do that with his superior skills. I don't remember MJ flopping. Yes, he always got the calls but not by flopping. Right now Lebron looks more like Verajao than MJ. With the way all the Cavs players are flopping, it seems like it's Verajao's team, the master flopper himself. Even tough and rugged Ben Wallace is doing it. The Cavs need to realize that this style will not win them a championship.
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5-26-2009 @ 12:24PM
ellisjoh said...
Mo Williams should have said he looked like he had been beaten by Larry Holmes.
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5-26-2009 @ 4:23PM
troy carlton said...
Allthough a few comments back i was defending contact and railing the league for becoming soft, this incedent here was a bit much, and not because of the blood after the contact. It is not uncommon for players to clear space by swinging there elbows. They let the opposition know hey move over brother. But in this case if i remember clearly i dont think Mo was that close on Johnson. Now with that being said i also dont think Johnson should be suspended a game for his actions. Like i have said in other posts this year more than any other i can remember it has come down to the league having far to much influence on the game. Is it possible for the league to babysit without sending the players to there room
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5-26-2009 @ 4:53PM
Dvdfrnzwbr said...
If the Cavs can put four quarters together with help from the bench, then their opponent will lose their Magic touch. Flopping is part of the game. Its the only way to display poor sportsmanship, dirty play, and fowls from the other team, which the refs don't see.
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5-26-2009 @ 5:34PM
dick Worrell said...
Van Gundy is the worst coach in basketball. What a crey baby he is. He is alwaways trying to work the refs. He is a real horses ass. He needs to get a fricking life and quit crying... Go Clevelan, gooo La Bron
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5-26-2009 @ 5:50PM
Giles said...
The nba office has rescinded the flagrant foul call against Johnson. Sorry Williams, the contact was rough, but ruled NOT AJ`s fault. As for Benito Wallace being tough and intimadating. Maybe to point guards like Tony. Not to power forwards, much less centers. And if he is so cursingly brave, let him try a flagrant against Howard in Orlando, like he did against poor Artest in Detroit. I turned that game off before that play, because I knew some such idiocy was coming. The Pistons weren`t man enough to take being defeated like a pro, and try to do better next time. They had to be like 2 year old girls throwing a hissy fit. Van Gundy apologized to Shaq for pointing out, rightly, he flopped, because Shaq was just trying to emphasize contact, and didn`t make a habit of it. Lots of players start to fall BEFORE they can be touched, and DO make a habit of it. If James gets hot from the perimeter this next road game, the Magic could still be blown out of this series, but James is usually cold from out there, and I hope that continues, one more playoff season, at least. Long enough for the Cavs to get him more, better help, with a legit wing sized guard, a power forward who can shoot, and a quality young back up center.
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5-26-2009 @ 6:35PM
rjw6683 said...
You couldn't be more wrong with what you just wrote. Right idea but wrong facts. The league rescinding that foul is just another example of them picking and choosing when to enforce rules. Just 2 weeks ago the league let everyone know that an elbow to any point over the shoulders is an auto suspension and boot from the game. Add that with the person committing the foul talking trash about doing it to the media and that my friend is an easy call. As for James going cold normally outside you should check your numbers. He's right up there with stars known for outside shots. Just ahead of Wade and just behind Kobe. As for talking trash about Wallace, you do realize he's at the end of his career and coming off a broken leg right. The guy won defensive MVP what was it, 5 times or so? That in itself speaks that in his prime he was a beast inside. Talk about Verajo flopping and your right. Talk about the Cavs blowing 2 huge leads and I'll listen. Talk about Orlando being a horrible matchup roster wise for the Cavs and I'd say sure. The Cavs have the pieces they just aren't playing well at all right now. Living in Cleveland I'm sick of people saying Cleveland all of the sudden doesn't have the right pieces instead of giving Orlando props for the way they are executing their gameplan.
5-26-2009 @ 7:34PM
mrbuffalosabre said...
Quit whinning King James. Orlando is by far the better team and you are going down !!PEASANTS
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5-26-2009 @ 8:50PM
emperioh said...
so he elbow the man, blood gushes out, its clear he meant to do it, no call made, no fine..KOBE GET TRIPED,THAT DUDE GET A TECH.
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5-26-2009 @ 9:40PM
dj said...
The elbow was clearly accidential. Mo Williams bumps Anthony Johnson. Johnson tries to clear space for a shot and so he can get free throw and his elbow hits Williams in the face. The play came during a drive to the basket and is part of basketball. The NBA is full of whiners that want to complain about being touched. Besides after Mo Williams threw a ball at Dwight Howard adter a foul he got what he deserved.
As for Kobe Bryant, he is getting mugged. But Phil Jackson had Tyron Lue do the same thing to Allen Iverson in the finals so he should quit whining as well. If his superstar isn't complaining then neither should he.
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5-26-2009 @ 10:15PM
Giles said...
James, .344% from 3, all Cavs. opponents,.347%, so James is a below average, not just below superstar, 3 pt. shooter. James, .748% Ft., opponents, .766%, so James is an even more below average middle distance shooter. Quit your hero/hype worship and stick to the facts. Courtesy of the Cavs.`s own website. And yes, Benito did win defensive player of the year 4 times, not 5, and I was surprised to see him attempt a comeback this year on that leg. I also tend to say LeBron probably deserved the mvp award this year, despite other worthy candidates. But the young man, while vastly more polished than Howard, still has a LOT to learn, and I hope he WILL learn it. I WANT him to be great. He isn`t yet. But has the chance to be. I wish him well. And I wish they`d flush this overagrresive hype about him and just let him play ball, and make commercials. I like the way his does that. He may equal Baylor, Barry, Erving, Havlicek, Bird, etc., among those who played his current position. He is no where near that good yet. And yes, Orlando is playing well. Van Gundy and Ewing, etc., are a good coaching tandem with good players. And it sure isn`t because the Cavs. aren`t giving it their all, they certainly are. As for 2 weeks ago, yeah, the league missed that call, Luis Scola, a reasonably good player, flopped before he was touched, which is why his head was low enough for Fisher to hit, when Fisher was trying to smack his chest, they do make mistakes like everyone else, and may have done again about Johnson, or about adding a flagrant on Jones but fining Jackson for pointing it out to them. And yes, Orlando is winning without their nominal all star guard, Jameer Nelson. I wish both teams well, and both teams could stand to make additions in the off season. Another, 6`10, but young, swing forward to rest Turkoglu and Lewis could be very nice for the Magic, but the draft seems to have little quality size beyond the lottery picks. Have a nice day!
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