MIAMI - He had the ball on the baseline with the Milwaukee Bucks' Mike Dunleavy defending him Sunday night. When Dunleavy leaned ever so slightly to his right . . . LeBron James took one dribble and stormed toward the basket.
He soared under the rim and emerged on the other side, ripping down a ferocious dunk that left the sold-out crowd in AmericanAirlines Arena roaring in approval. James stood there for a moment in a hulking pose, admiring his work and enjoying a moment that looked exactly like so many he had for seven years at Quicken Loans Arena.
As the Cavaliers prepare to face James and the Miami Heat Tuesday night for the first time this season, James is still adjusting to his new life. Last season was the complicated transitional phase, but he is flourishing this season.
The Heat are 6-1 without Dwyane Wade, in large part because of James. Wade has missed the past four games with an ankle injury and is questionable for Tuesday night's game. The Heat scored impressive victories over the Spurs, Lakers and Sixers last week, until tired legs gave out in a sloppy loss Sunday against the Bucks.
James is averaging 29.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists - numbers in line with his career averages of 27.7, 7.1 and 7.0. He entered the season promising to shed the villain role that he encountered last season. He was going to smile more and enjoy the game again.
"He's very committed, he's very focused and he was last year," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "If he happens to do that with a smile on his face this year, I don't have a problem with that. He's been very committed as a leader of our team."
Despite the highlight dunk, James didn't play his best game Sunday night, particularly in the final minutes, when he missed a jumper, blew an easy layup and was part of the Heat lineup that allowed tiny Brandon Jennings to get a key offensive rebound and basket when the Heat were trying to rally.
But James was at ease in the locker room afterward, joking about an errant blow to the face he received from the Bucks' Andrew Bogut.
Depending on who is speaking, James, at times, appears more relaxed and comfortable than he was last year and sometimes he's not.
"Obviously, it was a whirlwind of a season last year," Heat center Joel Anthony said. "He's a lot more comfortable in his position here in Miami. That's to be expected after getting over that first year."
The Heat recently created gimmick posters with a 1970s theme, one of which features James in an afro wig and sunglasses and holding a disco ball, reminiscent to all those skits and singing performances he would give on the Jumbotron during Cavs games.
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