LeBron James admits the Miami Heat's chase to become just the third team in the last two decades to win an NBA three-peat is mentally wearing the team down.
"It's a long and grueling season for all of us, not just because we're the champs,"James told CBSSports.com Friday night, moments after the Heat completed their unsuccessful trip through New York with a 104-95 double-overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets that followed a 102-92 loss ot the Knicks.
"We've played a lot of basketball in our four years together," he added via CBSSports.com. "It's taken a lot of wear and tear on all our bodies. It's mentally fatiguing. And you just try to find the motivation the best way you can as an individual and as a collective group."
Against the Nets, Miami was without three starters due to injuries. Dwyane Wade missed his eighth game of year due to knee soreness and Mario Chalmers and Shane Battier were also out.
"We're banged up right now," James told CBS. "We're not an excuse team right now, but we've got three starters out. And even though we've got a lot of depth, it's hard to make up for three starters being out, so we could all use a break for sure."
Following their New York trip, the Heat return to Miami for two off days, before embarking on a trip to Washington and a stop at the White House before Wednesday night's Wizards game.
It all comes as a welcome respite for James and Company. Things have been so out of character of late that against the Nets James both fouled out and nearly came to blows with Brooklyn forward Mirza Teletovic after a flagrant foul.
"He went around the neck; that was my neck," James told CBS. "It's not a basketball play."
The last two teams to three-peat were Michael Jordan's Bulls and Kobe Bryant's Lakers.
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