MIAMI —
The days of riding a bicycle home from AmericanAirlines Arena are gone.
No more late-night workouts. No more running with teammate Ray Allen from the practice facility to the team hotel.
Everything Miami Heat forward LeBron James did up to this point to display his workout mentality was no longer in the plan. On the eve of the game that determined if his basketball legacy takes a step forward or backward, James took a mild preparation approach to facing the San Antonio Spurs Thursday in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
He watched Sponge Bob with his two sons.
At 9 p.m., to be exact.
"It's going to be light-hearted around the house, man," James said. "…You don't want to think about the game too much. I understand it's a huge game. It's probably going to be one of the biggest games, if not the biggest game, of my life. But I'm going to just keep it the same way I've been doing and (Thursday) night I'll be able to focus in about on the job at hand."
How odd cartoon-night with the boys took precedence over James breaking down the film. This is the player who memorizes moments in history, some before he was born, because he's watched enough vintage NBA highlights.
Instead, he hung out with a few family members. A close friend flew into town. Some of his high school teammates from Ohio are here to cheer him on. The plan was to take the focus off basketball much as possible Wednesday night.
"We're going to laugh and joke about things that have happened in the past," James said. "…You don't want to think about the game too much. I understand it's a huge game."
The relaxation gave James a free moment before thinking the hours leading up to tip-off about the magnitude of what's at stake. If he wins, he becomes a two-time champion. He further silences the doubters who questioned his departure from Cleveland. He enjoys another "Summer of LeBron" media love affair.
"I want to go down as one of the greatest," James said. "I want our team to go down as one of the greatest teams. And we have an opportunity to do that. Hasn't been many peoples to win back to back championships. It's so hard. It's the hardest thing. I said last year it was the hardest thing I've ever done, winning my first. Last year don't even come close to what we've gone through in this postseason and in these Finals."
And if he loses?
Everything repaired about his reputation last year is no longer under warranty. The offseason story transforms from greatest team to what changes the Heat need to make. The preseason, regular season and postseason story become will he leave in 2014?
Where James ranks among the all-time greats also comes into question. Never mind the four most valuable player awards, the 27-game winning streak, the franchise-record 66 wins.
"I already know that," James said. "It is what it is. I understand the moment for me. I've been pretty relaxed, though. I've been pretty relaxed throughout the playoffs. I'm going to be antsy, I'm going to be excited. I'm going to have some butterflies. I'll be nervous. Everything. That's how I should be.The moment is going to be grand. Like I said, I'm happy to be a part of it."
For James to end the Finals with a smile, he will have to lead the Heat to consecutive victories for the first time in the series. The teams have traded victories, with each coach succumbing to the other's adjustment.
In the end, the victor will not be determined by the coach or teammates.
It all comes down to James, at least in everyone's eyes.
"There's a lot of great players in this series," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "I mean, he's the greatest one. He understands the spotlight that will be put on him. I think he's going to enjoy the moment. Game 7 here on our home floor, you know, it's going to be tough for him not to give it his all. Hopefully the outcome is great."
Win or lose, James is expecting some sort of criticism. He's fine with it because basketball has provided opportunity to fulfill his dream. He feels he's already won. He's playing in the NBA. His jersey is worn by millions across the country.
The criticism is the least of his worries.
"It won't stop me from loving the game, playing at a high level, doing it for my teammates, putting that uniform on," James said. "First of all, I mean, I'm blessed, man. I don't even know how I got here. I wasn't supposed to be in the NBA, if you go by statistics and things of me growing up where I grew up. Every time I go into my locker room and see the "James" on the back of an NBA jersey, I'm like wow, no criticism can deter me from playing this game because of that. I'm not supposed to be here. The fact that I'm doing what I'm doing and doing it for my teammates, it's all that matters."
--CREDITS @SUN-SENTINEL
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