LeBron James Takes on Stan Van Gundy

ORLANDO -- Cavs star LeBron James wasn't about to let Magic coach Stan Van Gundy off the hook over comments he made regarding teammate Ben Wallace.

Van Gundy essentially called Wallace a flopper on Monday, saying "he and Mo Williams were falling down more than a baby learning to walk.''

While Wallace reacted with a string of expletives Tuesday morning after the Cavs workout, James took the time just an hour before Game 4 on Tuesday to chastise Van Gundy.

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"You guys know how Stan is,'' James said. "There is a first time for everything, but we all know Ben Wallace has never been a flopper, will never be a flopper. And if you think he's a flopper, but you won't tell him to his face that he's a flopper ... Well, I damn sure know he won't tell him to his face. I know that for a fact.''

Wallace, the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, has not been much of a factor in these playoffs. In 11 games, he has blocked just two blocks. He has averaged just 11.8 minutes and 2.4 rebounds.

"Whatever he says isn't going to change the way I play defense or the way we play,'' Wallace said. "It is what it is.''

Magic backup center Marcin Gortat, meanwhile, came into Game 4 of this series basking in the glow of his Game 3 performance when he blocked two shots by James.

Gortat, the league's only Polish-born player, was a relatively obscure backup center still trying to carve his NBA niche when these playoffs began.

But his two blocks against James, one in the first quarter and one in the second, has taken him to a new level, based on the reaction he has received from those around the league.

"That's all people are talking about to me, not that we beat the Cavs, but that I blocked LeBron's shots,'' Gortat said. "After the second block, I could read it in his face, that he wanted to dunk on me. This was almost like a historic thing for me and my career. I want to do it again and be ready in Game 4.