MIAMI — LeBron James wasn’t bothered a bit 11 days ago by the relentless Garden boos, posting a triple-double and helping the Heat to a 22-point victory over the Knicks.
So King James says he wouldn’t mind if AmericanAirlines Arena is dotted with Knicks fans spewing more venom tonight. In fact, James encouraged transplanted New Yorkers to come to the arena on Biscayne Bay and deliver a blizzard of boos.
Heat officials expect a good handful of orange-and-blue-clad fans as the resurgent Knicks get their rematch against the Miami Dream Team. For most Heat home games, 2,000 or so empty seats can be seen despite the team announcing regular sellouts of 19,600. The no-shows are further testament to South Florida being a suspect sports town. But tonight’s crowd will be overflow.
“It would be good if we get a lot of Knick fans in the building,” James said after yesterday’s practice. “Then we might hear a few boos. I know I might. I would like it. Maybe I’ll give Knicks fans some tickets.”
James appears to be loving the outlaw image he has created for himself. In New York, he said the boos showed the fans “appreciate” his game. Being booed in his own building, however, will be a new one for James, especially if “MVP!” chants are directed at Amar’e Stoudemire and not at him.
“My previous years I’ve been here, they always get some cheers when they come in,” Miami’s Dwyane Wade said of the Knicks. “So it will be interesting to see what goes on. I expect a great atmosphere. New York is one of the top teams in the league now, and they’re very exciting. Anytime the mecca of basketball is back, a lot of fans want to see them play.”
At the 30-game mark, the Knicks boast an 18-12 record and are winners of two straight, over league stalwarts Oklahoma City and Chicago. They have won 15 of their previous 19. The Heat (23-9) are even hotter, on a 14-1 roll, playing to their dynamo expectations. They whipped the Knicks in the second half on Dec. 17 after being tied 57-57 at halftime in the capper to the three-game Dream Week.
“When we faced Miami, we had less legs,” Stoudemire said. “We felt tired.”
Knicks assistant coach Dan D’Antoni said of the rematch, “They have individuals players that can make plays regardless of team defense. You have to score against Miami and continue score. Using the words, ‘Stop him,’ is impossible — you try to make it difficult as possible.”
James said he feels the Knicks’ renaissance is only a positive for NBA business.
“You always want the Knicks to be good,” James said. “It’s good for the NBA they are back. You have so many New York sports fans who love the Knicks when they’re good.
“For me, the Knicks haven’t been good in my reign since I played basketball, so I wouldn’t know. But the older generation when they see the Knicks good, that’s what they’re accustomed to. If you ask kids 12, 13, they wouldn’t know. All they’d know is the Knicks losing. If you ask my kids or any middle school kid, they wouldn’t know.”
Perhaps that’s why James shunned the Knicks, feeling it was too much of a burden to turn around a losing culture.
Or maybe he just wanted to not have to deal with blizzards. Asked if he felt fortunate being in sunny Miami while snowstorms wreaked havoc in New York, James wouldn’t gloat.
“I lived in blizzards and snow for 25 years,” the Akron, Ohio, native said. “So if I was in them still, I know how to adjust to them. I got trucks and cars back home, all the shovels and everything. It was more than just the weather — it’s this team. But at the end of the day, I’d rather be in the sun now than a blizzard right now. I’m not going to lie to you.”
James said he is not totally surprised the Knicks have emerged as a playoff contender, standing in sixth place in the East.
“They’re playing good basketball,” James said. “I don’t want to sound surprised because they got some good players. They got an MVP candidate in Amar’e and they do have some pieces.”
James also displayed a working knowledge of the old Heat-Knicks rivalry of the 1990s.
“I’ve seen some heated games,” James said. “I know that [Heat president] Pat [Riley] coached the Knicks then moved to Miami. I know the reception Pat got when he went back to the Garden. I know the shot Allan Houston hit. Being a sports guy, I know those type of things”
James claimed South Florida has solid sports fans, despite a reputation as having too many transplants.
“I think it’s great,” said James, who captured Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors and is averaging 24.8 points and 7.2 assists. “We got University of Miami, Dolphins, the Marlins. The city is inspired about sports. We’re going to go out there as a basketball franchise and continue to play great basketball to keep people coming.”