LeBron quotes Jay Z when discussing hard fouls

LeBron James is an easy target on the basketball court for opposing players, encountering a level of physicality from defenders befitting one of the greatest talents on the planet.

The Toronto Raptors have brought the pain to "The King" during the Eastern Conference finals, with the likes of center Bismack Biyombo not shying away from playing down and dirty with the four-time NBA MVP.

It's nothing new to James, who has been tossed around the hardwood his fair share of times over the course of his career. It would be difficult to blame him if he decided to retaliate, but when those thoughts cross his mind, he remembers the wise words of Young Hov to keep himself on the straight and narrow.

"I always think back to the Jay Z phrase and the line he had of, 'If I shoot you, then I'm brainless. If you shoot me, you famous. What am I to do?' So, that always plays in my brain any time I want to react," James said following a 99-84 loss to Toronto on Saturday. "I gotta keep my brain."

James has gotten to the charity stripe an average of 9.3 times per game against the Raptors, but only converted 57.1 percent of his attempts. He went 5-of-7 from the line Saturday, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in 38 minutes of action.