Cavs prepared for LeBron’s visit Dec. 2

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

LeBron James is coming back to Ohio for his first NBA game since splitting this summer to play in Florida.

King James won’t get the usual royal treatment.

“It’s going to be 10 times worse than when Carlos Boozer came back,” said Milwaukee’s Drew Gooden, who played four seasons in Cleveland. “I think 20,000 fans are going to have headaches from booing.”

Indeed, the Cleveland fans are going to let him hear it. But the Cavaliers want to make sure that’s all they’re doing.

To ensure the safety of players and fans, and ease concerns about potential trouble, the team is beefing up security in and around Quicken Loans Arena for James’ hyped return on Dec. 2 with Miami, a game Cleveland fans have eagerly awaited since July when the two-time league MVP announced his decision to join the Heat.

James said Friday night in Miami that he has already started envisioning his return.

“It’s going to be a real hostile environment, I know,” James said. “It’s going to be pretty intense.”

Still, he has no worries. The Heat have been involved with the planning of some security-related issues surrounding the game, and James has a sense of what to expect that night.

“I’m not concerned at all,” James said. “The league is a good league and they do their best to try to make sure us players and the fans have a great time in those games. We’re going in there to try to get a win. But at the same time, I know it’ll be pretty hostile.”

Cavaliers spokesman Tad Carper said team wants “to make people feel safe coming to the game,” and that includes James.

The Cavaliers have been working with the league and city officials since the NBA’s schedule was released in August. The main goal is to provide a secure environment for everyone without compromising the inherent advantage Cleveland has in playing at home.

The team is asking fans to refrain from wearing any profane or vulgar clothing directed at James or his family, and any obscene signs will be confiscated. However, that doesn’t mean the Cavaliers are telling folks not to express their opinions. They just want to keep it clean.

“We think this is a great opportunity for our fans to positively show their support for their team, the organization and the city,” Carper said.