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James took the floor for pregame at 7:18 p.m., one of the last three Heat players to emerge into view, sandwiched between Bosh and Wade, Metallica's "Enter Sandman" blaring through the arena as usual. The Heat, clad in black warmups, huddled in a hallway just behind the court, as dozens of people leaned to take photos with their cell phones for the first arrival.
James' longtime girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, was in the much-larger-than-usual preseason crowd, but his children weren't -- school obligations, James said.
"As a basketball player, as a guy who loves the game of basketball, I'm excited about that, for the season to be back around," James said. "I'm very happy about that."
Bosh knew Tuesday was a big deal when his father insisted on coming to the game.
"He was that excited about it," Bosh said. "He was ready to see us take the court for the first time. Just this fact that he was super-excited about it, that let me know kind of how everybody else is going to be. And if that's how everybody is, it makes it a lot more fun to play."
The Pistons took this game seriously, making it a measure of where they are three weeks before the games start counting, center Ben Wallace said.
"They know everybody's going to be gunning at them," Wallace said. "I heard them say that they know they put the bulls-eye on their back. That helps you to focus, helps you stay on your toes, stay on top of your game knowing that everyone is coming at you night-in and night-out."
Outside, parking lots that used to charge $10 were asking $40 per space. Long lines of fans waited to get in, some wearing James, Wade and Bosh Heat jerseys -- and a few wearing James' old No. 23 from Cleveland as well. A notoriously late-arriving Miami crowd showed up to see the pregame introductions, and roared when James' name was called first.
"You can tell it's an exciting time for this city," James said. "And hopefully we can come through and do things that we need to do on the court to keep the fans excited."
This seemed like a good first impression.
Notes: Flo Rida and Gloria Estefan were in the crowd, and most seats were filled by tip-off -- a far cry from preseason games in recent years, when the Heat typically played before a half-empty house. ... The Heat next play on Friday in Kansas City, Mo. against Oklahoma City -- a Miami home game, technically -- then head to San Antonio the next night.
[Associated Press;
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