LeBron hosting Thanksgiving for Heat in Cleveland

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MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James will have his favoriteThanksgiving foods — turkey, yams and macaroni and
cheese — on hisholiday table Thursday.More importantly, that table will be surrounded by his favorite
people.Ifan upside exists to the Miami Heat having to spend Thanksgiving andChristmas on the road, a
schedule quirk that the NBA champions are nothappy about, it’s that one of those swings is through
Cleveland. Miamivisits the Cavaliers on Wednesday, and altered its postgame travelschedule so James could
host Thanksgiving dinner at his northeast Ohiohome."We would have loved to have been here for the
holidays,Thanksgiving and Christmas being here in Miami," James said. "We don’tmind playing on
those holidays. Wish we could have been here, but I amhappy that I’m able to do something for the team for
Thanksgiving."Jameshas tried to address every detail, like telling the team to wear casualattire and
asking Shane Battier what beer he wants with dinner. James’wife and his chef will split the cooking
duties."We’re not athome with our families for Thanksgiving but it couldn’t work out anybetter that at
least we could be in someone else’s home," Miami’s DwyaneWade said. "And it’s a very nice home
that we’re going to, so I’ll makesure I’ll put on the right clothes and the right
socks,gotta-take-your-shoes-off-at-the-door type of house."James’previous visits to play against the
Cavaliers, a team he led to theironly NBA finals but then spurned as a free agent, have taken oncircus-like
atmospheres. And this one, given that he could choose tobecome a free agent again this coming summer, will
likely be nodifferent.His first game in Cleveland was a hatefest as Cavs fansturned on the once adored
superstar, booing his every move withunprecedented venom. Last March, James rallied the Heat from a
27-pointdeficit in the third quarter to beat the Cavs in a game that included afan running on the floor
wearing a T-shirt that said: "We Miss You, 2014Come Back."That moment prompted Josh Raggi, a
24-year-old realestate broker, who like most Cavaliers fans felt betrayed by James’departure, to take action
to bring James home again.Raggi andthree partners — one them, James Blair, the fan who ran on the floor
—launched "Come Home LeBron," a campaign to show James that NortheastOhio doesn’t hate him. The
group plans to hand out T-shirts outsideQuicken Loans Arena on Wednesday night. A "Come Home
LeBron" billboardwent up near St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, James’ beloved almamater, on
Monday."We’re not trying to beg him to come back,"Raggi said. "We want to show him that he
would be welcomed back. …Time has healed."The Heat are aware of the planned rallies, and James was
tight-lipped about his thoughts."Heard about it," said James, who says he won’t talk about next
summer until it arrives. "Heard about it."Battier understands where fans are coming
from."Ifit was anyone else besides LeBron, I’d say no," Battier said, asked iffree-agent lobbying
this early is odd. "But he’s sort of past thesublime level. For someone else? Yes. It’s gone from the
ridiculous tothe sublime in general with LeBron."The same can be said about his play.He’sa four-time
NBA MVP who is shooting 61 percent from the field, 49percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the foul
line, which putshim on career-best pace in each category.Still, James contends he’s not quite
rolling."I’m not there yet, but I’m rounding the corner," James said. "I’m rounding third.
I’m feeling better every week."Upon hearing that, Wade scoffed with a grin."He’s there now,"
Wade said. "He’s there. It’s remarkable."James has shot 65 percent or better five times in Miami’s
first 14 games, including an 11-for-14 effort Monday against Phoenix."Experience,his IQ, his
understanding of our offense, understanding of how we wantto attack, that’s at an elite level — that’s at
coaching level," Heatcoach Erik Spoelstra said.For that, Spoelstra is thankful.For this team, James is
thankful. That’s why he’s rolling out the welcome mat Thursday."I’m a great host," James said.
"It’s natural for me. I don’t mind giving guys what they want — what they deserve."___AP Sports
Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All
rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.

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