When LeBron James’ right ankle turned abnormally Saturday afternoon and he didn’t shake it off in superhuman fashion, a layer of intrigue was added to an already peculiar season.
That gimpy walk to the locker room set off a bat signal to the rest of the NBA, at least to the ones with a realistic chance of getting to the NBA Finals. James’ second semi-serious injury in three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers isn’t so much a signal that he’s slowing down — because he could show up in a week, tearing off his cape like James Brown — but it’s yet another sign this season isn’t like any other in recent history.