LeBron says Cubs uniform is ready
The Chicago Cubs' World Series victory will impact the Bulls on Friday - it's the day LeBron James is supposed to pay off his wager with Dwyane Wade and walk into the United Center wearing a Cubs uniform.
If Cleveland had won, Wade would have worn an Indians uniform when the Bulls played the Cavs on Jan. 4.
"I'm not wearing cleats," James told reporters after shootaround in Cleveland on Thursday. "I've got a basketball game to play. No glove. Just the uniform. I will be in uniform.
"It's a bet. You have to fulfill your bet. Nothing more to it."
Wade was asked if James might just run from the bus to the locker room. Probably not, considering the chance for extra publicity. Wade retweeted a short video of a Cubs jersey hanging in a locker above James signature sneakers.
"He's a stand-up guy, you know. He's a class guy," Wade said. "So he's going to let you guys get your moment, everyone is going to get their moment. I'm going to have my camera crew out there too. We're going to get our moments. We're going to have fun with it. It's all in fun. Nothing more than that."
Butler sees doubles:
The Los Angeles Lakers employed a successful defensive strategy against the Bulls on Wednesday, double-teaming Jimmy Butler frequently.
Butler led the Bulls with 22 points, but hit just 4 of 18 shots from the field, along with 13 of 15 free throws. The Lakers usually employed long-armed rookie Brandon Ingram as one of the double-teamers.
"I thought Jimmy did a good job making the right plays when those kind of things happened," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "You drop two to the ball, you space the floor right, you should get something accomplished on the back side.
We watched a lot of clips on spacing today to try to combat that when those types of things happen. So sure, I think teams will play us different ways. You have to be ready to attack it. You should welcome it."
Wade considers reunion:
Dwyane Wade delivered an expansive answer when asked Thursday if he might play with LeBron James again someday.
"I never thought I would play with LeBron. I didn't think that it was a possibility at all," he said. "I mean I enjoyed the All-Star Games, I enjoyed the Olympics, but I never thought that we would play together.
"That's why I look at it now, at young guys and what they say, because you never know what the future is going to hold for you. So keep your comments to yourself on the future. So I will keep my comments on myself for whatever. For me, I'm here and I'm happy to be here, but I was happy in Miami as well. It just happened. You never know what's going to happen in this game, so people should never say never or anything.
"That's not saying that I want to play with LeBron. Let me clearly say that. I'm not saying that I want to be somewhere that I'm not. That's not saying it at all, but also I understand how this league works.