MIAMI — The Heat’s LeBron James swears he turns off his phone and avoids outside world contact as much as possible during the postseason. So when he was asked about all the swirling reports that say Knick Carmelo Anthony could make Miami’s Big Three the Big Four this summer, James proclaimed total ignorance.
“So what happened?” James asked before Thursday’s 107-86 Game 4 loss to the Spurs, to put San Antonio one win away from the NBA title, when he was told reports indicated the Heat have begun internal discussions exploring the possibility of luring Anthony to Miami. “OK. So when did this happen?
“Bother me? I’m just now hearing about it so it doesn’t bother me at all,” James said. “Obviously, Melo has his own decision to make and obviously that’s not even crossed my mind at this point in the season, so I really don’t have an answer for it.”
James made two trips to the locker room — once before the game and once in the first quarter. The first time was to re-tape his ankle and the second time was to use the restroom.
Tim Duncan (10 points, 11 rebounds) broke two playoff records: he passed Magic Johnson for the most double-doubles and surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most playoff minutes.
“I can assure you he doesn’t care,” coach Gregg Popovich said.
Well, he did a little.
“I can appreciate you saying the names and having passed them in anything. It’s an honor to be in that position,” Duncan said. “Having won helps, obviously, but the focus is winning one more, and once that one more is done, I can look back and say, hey, it’s truly an honor.”
The world noticed when the Spurs put on a shooting clinic in the first half of Game 3. And all could not help but notice the passing clinic Thursday. And shooting can be overrated in the minds of some. It’s what comes before.
“Shooting is the last thing. It’s very important, of course, because if you can’t shoot, you’re not going to score but being able to pass the ball and get in great position is what will lead to an open shot,” the Spurs’ Boris Diaw said. “Passing is underrated. It should be a bigger part of the game.”
It is the sort of thing the Spurs work on. And then work on some more, even if it is as exciting as watching chrome rust.
“It’s very boring, just practicing passing but we try to scrimmage and play when we run up and down the floor and run our plays,” Manu Ginobili said. “There are moments we try to play free basketball and get many passes and move from one side to the other, at the same time balance the court.”
And who is to argue with the Spurs. Through four games of the Finals, the Spurs have 102 assists, the Heat have 62. And the Spurs lead the Finals, 3-1.
Yes, they can pass. But the Spurs also can defend. Here is Miami coach Erik Spoelstra’s thumbnail assessment of the San Antonio defense.
“They have a definitive system that they understand and they have enough years of experience with it, they’re committed to that side of the floor,” Spoelstra said. “Tim Duncan is highly intelligent protecting the paint. They do a good job of keeping you out of the paint, away from the rim, away from the free throw line.”
The Spurs bench has outscored Miami reserves, 141-85, in the first four games. … Popovich was asked about adjustments. Did he feel he had to do something different in Game 4: “No.”