EARLIER THIS MONTH, facing a near double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter against a San Antonio Spurs team that already beaten the Los Angeles Lakers twice this season, LeBron James took over.
At first, the dominance was familiar: James streaking across the open court, plowing by a hapless defender for the and-1, slapping his bicep for effect; James coming up with a sudden surge of energy to turn a lazy San Antonio pass into a steal, and then passing the ball to a wide-open teammate on the fast break after pushing it up the court.
And then -- three times -- there was LeBron's latest finishing move: the step-back 3-pointer that he is taking and making at a rate not seen before in his 16-year career.