Miami Heat star LeBron James blames new jerseys for San Antonio Spurs defeat

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James shot 6-of-18 during Thursday's game against the San Antonio Spurs
The performance was his second-worst shooting night of the season
The short-sleeved jerseys are flying off the shelves of stores
'Every time I shoot it feels like it's just pulling right up underneath my arm,' James complained

PUBLISHED: 11:14 EST, 8 March 2014 | UPDATED: 13:37 EST, 8 March 2014

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Not since Manchester United tried to pin the blame for a thumping at Southampton on their grey kit has there been such an unconvincing excuse for a bad performance.

Miami Heat star LeBron James insists his poor display in the defeat by the San Antonio Spurs was due to the new short-sleeved jerseys in favour in the NBA.

James was successful with just six of his 18 attempts during the Heat's 111-87 defeat by the Spurs, his second-worst shooting night of the season. 'I’m not making excuses, but I’m not a big fan of the jerseys,' he said.

VIDEO Scroll down to see LeBron in happier times, talking after his career-high 61 points

Blame game: Miami Heat forward LeBron James (right) says his poor performance against San Antonio Spurs was down to the short-sleeved jerseys

Aerial ultra: James goes for the basket in the second half against the Spurs

Hanging tough: James goes for the basket but was unsuccessful with most of his attempts

Grey area: Manchester United blamed defeat at Southampton on their new away kit, which was quickly binned

More...

'Every time I shoot it feels like it's just pulling right up underneath my arm. I already don't have much room for error on my jump shot. It's definitely not a good thing.'

The short-sleeved jerseys were introduced to the NBA this season and are flying off the shelves of stores as they are very popular with fans, reports ESPN.

James is not a fan of the jerseys and told reporters that it affects his long range shots.

James alluded to a game on Christmas Day when he wore one of the short-sleeved jerseys and shot 0-of-4 from a 3-point-range in a game with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Thursday was a night of mishaps for LeBron who later took off the plastic mask he wears to protect his broken nose because it 'bothered him.'

'I don't like it,' James said. 'I got a message from my wife at halftime telling me to put it back on so I may be in trouble when I get home.'

LeBron James on his career-high 61 points

Up in arms: LeBron, pictured sleeveless here, is not happy about the new on court dress code

Making his deficiencies: James wears a face mask against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half

As for the short sleeved jerseys, LeBron wasn't the only player to complain about the restrictive style.

However, the NBA disputes that shooting percentages are the same regardless of whether a person is wearing a short sleeved jersey or not.

'We know that shooting percentages are virtually exactly the same for games in which we have sleeved jerseys and teams in which the guys are wearing conventional jerseys,' NBA commissioner Adam Silver said over All-Star Weekend.

'So I'm pretty comfortable from a competitive standpoint that it's having no impact.'

James is done wearing the short sleeved Jerseys this season and is pretty thrilled about it but knows there will be a game in the future for which he'll have to wear the Jersey.

'I have to figure something out the next time I have to wear them,' James said.

Angry man: James disagrees with an official during the second half of the Spurs defeat

NBA star LeBron James puts on a brilliant slam dunk show

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Lukeok, swieqi, Malta, 1 day ago

He does have a point though if it's restricted shoulder movement not as crazy as the man united claims...

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Brandon, Sydney, 23 hours ago

I'm not an apologist for Man Utd but there was a practical reason for those claims and their half-time change - hard to see each other against the backdrop of the stands. Off the top of my head, not many clubs sport similar (or grey) jerseys these days. Of course, based on that logic, it could be argued that all home teams are fighting against the backdrop of their own supporters' replicas, but grey might just be especially problematic. As for the NBA - the sooner they get rid of this particular marketing push the better. Also impractical. As for the NBA, I'm with the rest of you. Free those shoulders, shun your avaricious marketing department and respect the quality of the game itself, Adam Silver.

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Brandon, Sydney, 1 hour ago

Thanks, Mail, for telling me my comment hadn't posted.

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The Prof, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 1 day ago

Horrible. Stick to sleeveless.

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pedanna, Milwaukee, United States, 1 day ago

Seems we are all running out of excuses for poor performance. First it was Van Persie complaining that the opposition oops sorry team mates were running into his space. Now this, didn't hear that complain when he laid 61 on the Bobcats.

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Lukeok, swieqi, Malta, 1 day ago

They wore sleeveless against the bobcats.

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Louis, Manchester, United Kingdom, 1 day ago

It personal choice, some will like them, some will dislike them and some wont be bothered. There only being used to sell jerseys to middle aged watchers who might not want to wear sleeveless tops in public but the NBA wont be happy that their biggest asset commercially is against them

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iain76, Manchester, 2 days ago

Why would you play in regular t-shirt sleeves? We used to cut our sleeves off to play basketball in because of restriction in movement caused by sweating and friction. What a stupidly ridiculous design. Have the designers tried draining a jumper with sticky sleeves.

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Lou, Anywhere but here, United Kingdom, 2 days ago

Agreed they are terrible. Money making scheme by the NBA for fans to buy not only the normal home and away jersey but also the retro and now this t-shirt version.