Stanley Johnson won't back down from LeBron James: 'It's on'

[Laimbeer]

Stanley Johnson got his welcome-to-the-playoffs moment early in Game 1 on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Detroit Pistons rookie was matched up against Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James when he came into the game early in the first quarter.

And Johnson described a sequence late in the quarter where James tried to throw him to the floor, but the rookie got the whistle. It left Johnson shaking his head.

“The only moment where I was mad and almost lost my cool ... I understand he’s a physical guy, but if he wants to grab me and throw me to the floor and you call a foul on me, I just don’t understand that," Johnson said after today's practice.

“Obviously, he got the call and it’s whatever but, for me, that was like, ‘Wow.’ I’ve never had a person grab my jersey and try to throw me to the floor, and then I come up on the wrong end of things. That woke me up a little bit and, from that point on, it’s on. If you want to foul me, we can both go to the floor."

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2016/04/18/detroit-pistons-stanley-johnson-lebron-james/83196622/

[TurboTitan]

How can you not love this kid?

[Liqourish]

I love Stanley. They are going to call you for the foul anyway, might as well make it worth it and take him down.

[MotownMadness]

Love it, I just can't wait till he fully develops and we can have him and KCP locking down the Wings. Could be like having two Jimmy Butlers on the wing.

[Pharaoh]

And THIS is why he was drafted!

"Got no drama getting called for a BS foul - but know Imma take his punk ass with me!"

[DETermination]

He has no fear and wont stop until he develops into a beast. And this is why I wanted him to get minutes in the playoffs, getting to guard the best player in the east and having good performances in the playoffs will give him lots of confidence going into next season.

[Maker_84]

he might have to play some 3 with Marcus moving to the 4 with how terrible Tobias Harris was. Stanley did much better than anyone could have ever thought in game 1. Bullock and him needed to play more

[Todd3]

If you want to foul me, we can both go to the floor."

This is awesome

[whitehops]

He's way too small for the 3, that wouldn't work.

[Pharaoh]

He's way too small for the 3, that wouldn't work.

LMAO!

Although I was gonna reply to Maker with the exact same statement

[Joe Berry]

If you want to foul me, we can both go to the floor."

This is awesome

This sounds like something Bill Laimbeer would have said.

[hoophabit]

Somehow, I'm expecting Tobias to bounce back. Although he struggled some in game one, we haven't seen that a lot. Johnson hasn't backed down from anyone all season, but I guess it being LBJ and the playoffs makes it news now?

[Pharaoh]

Somehow, I'm expecting Tobias to bounce back. Although he struggled some in game one, we haven't seen that a lot. Johnson hasn't backed down from anyone all season, but I guess it being LBJ and the playoffs makes it news now?

Said it before and I'll say it again:

The thing that sets SJ apart is his mentality. He has absolute faith in his ability to stand toe to toe with "the best in the world" and not move an inch.

When you put in the work that SJ does why wouldn't you have 100% faith in yourself?

[Kilo]

If Lebron cared enough about what a rookie was saying about him, he'd score 50 on his next game and then sit the 4th quarter.

[Pharaoh]

If Lebron cared enough about what a rookie was saying about him, he'd score 50 on his next game and then sit the 4th quarter.

Lebron don't care about anything but Lebron!

No respect for the Cavs organization, his coaches, his team mates...people only forgive his rubbish because he's LeBron!

All that said I'd love to see Lebron try to get 50 on SJ.

[hoophabit]

If Lebron cared enough about what a rookie was saying about him, he'd score 50 on his next game and then sit the 4th quarter.

Yeah, I expect that if LBJ bangs enough on the rookie they'd foul him out. Saying that isn't meant to imply some great conspiracy. Superstar vs rookie? Dues, and all that. As for team outlook, barring catastrophic injury or such, Stanley looked a lot like a guy who will establish some serious game of his own. Yes, only one night, but on the big stage. He has made us cringe at times this season, but a versatile swingman who's also a substantial paint presence? Stanley has a chance to be really good.

[In SVG We Trust]

If Lebron cared enough about what a rookie was saying about him, he'd score 50 on his next game and then sit the 4th quarter.

LeBron has never reached the 50 points in the Playoffs, what you talking about?

[whitehops]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxEAWb5FtWc[/youtube]

[Montanabadboy]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxEAWb5FtWc[/youtube]

This is what I wanted when we drafted SJ. This is why I was high on him during the college season. I thought, man, look at that dudes size, Lebron isn't gonna be pushing him around. Between him and Morris, does anybody match up with Lebron better than us? He's obviously gonna get his, but man is he gonna have to work hard for it.

[Manocad]

He's way too small for the 3, that wouldn't work.

6'7" and 245 is "way too small" for a SF? I guess Adrian Dantley should ask to have his HOF membership rescinded.