Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

CLEVELAND – The Detroit Pistons might be down, but they still aren’t backing down from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Marcus Morris and Stanley Johnson both stood their ground verbally Wednesday night after the Cavaliers took command of the first-round series with a 107-90 victory to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

And the target was Cavs superstar LeBron James, who was dominant while both Morris and Johnson struggled.

First up was Morris.

After James and Morris collided midway through the fourth quarter, James complained to the officials.

TV cameras appeared to catch James walking up the sidelines and mouthed expletives saying basically saying he would mess up Morris.

When asked about it afterward, the soft-spoken Morris simply said: “I know for a fact he wasn’t talking to me. You can quote me on that.”

James was dominant with 27 points on 12-for-18 shooting. And he gave the 19-year-old Johnson a lesson in the low post.

But Johnson took some pleasure when James gave him a bump during a break in action. In Johnson’s mind, that must mean James saw Johnson’s comments that the officials give James preferential treatment.

Despite Pistons' efforts, LeBron James won't get baited into head games

“He was walking away, I walked on a straight line,” Johnson said.

“He didn't bump me, I just didn't move my direction. I don't know what ya'll see from that; I didn't take anything from it but a cheap-ass shot. Cheap-ass bump.”

And then he basically called James a front-runner.

“I wish he would just talk when he’s like zero-zero, not when he’s up 16 and already got it going,” Johnson said. “That means something. That means you’re more confident in yourself. You believe what you’re about to do. Don’t talk after you’ve made a couple of shots. Anybody can do that.”

Johnson continued in taking on James and the entire Cavs bench.

“He jabbers, he moves his mouth some time,” Johnson said. “The whole team does like they’re little cheerleaders on the bench anytime you walk in the right corner. They’re always something like they’re playing basketball in the game. Only seven or eight players play for them. I don’t see why the others get talking. They might as well just be in the stands.”

Game 3 is Friday night at the Palace.

Contact Vince Ellis: vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56. Download our Pistons Xtra app on iTunes or Android!