TORONTO - Call it an excuse. Or call it an example of an athlete being honest and self-aware. But LeBron James' comments at shootaround Thursday morning about the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers ended up being prescient when it came to the beat down in store for his team from the Toronto Raptors later that night.
"This is just us during the regular season," said James hours before the Cavs' 133-99 loss to the Raptors. "This is just us. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at times."
Cleveland showed its unseemly side again, losing for the seventh time in its last 10 games - looking more like the team that started the season 5-7 through its first 12 games than the squad that reeled off 18 wins in 19 games to follow that.