Ex-Raptor Calderon has seen it all but nothing like LeBron James

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Jose Calderon has had well over 100 teammates during his 13 seasons in the NBA, but none of them like LeBron James.

The long-time Toronto Raptors point guard, who still sits near the top of many categories in the team’s record book, doesn’t play much these days, which gives him a good view of LeBron’s exploits.

“It is amazing what he’s been doing, it’s just all about what he’s been doing,” Calderon explained in the Cleveland locker room before Game 1.

“It’s just all the preparation. He takes care of his body. He’s all about basketball and basketball first.

“For him to be the guy every night, to play 40 (minutes), not even (just) that, scoring 40, getting 10-15 rebounds and assists and play defence and even more all the pressure, everybody talking about him, good or bad, I think that makes everything even more impressive and sometimes we take it for granted,” Calderon said.

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Calderon, a legend in his native Spain for helping the country win a pair of Olympic silver medals, as well as a World Cup and EuroCup gold, said what separates James from other superstars is his decision-making and unselfishness.

“He’s not scared of passing the ball if you’re open. He’s always going to make the right play. He’s not going to force shots just because he’s the best player, that’s not something (he does) and we have confidence to play with him because of that,” he said.

Calderon didn’t single anybody else out (say, Russell Westbrook …) but you got the gist of what he was saying.

“If you’re open, you’re going to get the ball. It doesn’t matter if it’s at the end of the game or at the beginning of the game. If it’s a clutch moment and it’s the right play, you know he’s going to pass you the ball, you’ve just got to be ready to make the right play, whatever it was. I think that makes him a little bit different. Other guys, I think they just try to (say), ‘It doesn’t matter, it’s my time and I’ve got to shoot it.’ He makes the right play and that gives us confidence for everybody to be ready to do it.”

NO TIME FOR REST TALK

James was asked three times on Tuesday morning about how rested he was. The four-time league MVP was having no part of the discussion, twice saying he’ll be fine, before adding after another probe that he never mentioned it was an issue.

“It wasn’t an issue. It’s what I had to do to help us get to the second round and we worry about the second round now that we’re here,” James said of playing heavy minutes against Indiana after playing all 82 games for the first time in his career.

The Cavs tried to find breaks for James more often on Tuesday than they had for most of the series against the Pacers.

James sat for the end of the third quarter in order to rest him for the finish.

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RESPECT FACTOR

Ever since he got here back in 2011, Dwane Casey has helped motivate the Raptors by pointing to their constant underdog status. However, after compiling the second-best record in the NBA this season, things have changed.

Told Vegas has the Raptors as the favourite in this series, Casey laughed.

“They (the sportsbooks) are very smart. That’s the scary part,” Casey said.

“It’s good. It’s a good feeling. You have to go out and still take care of business (though).”

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Is it tough for Casey to ditch the underdog mentality though? “No, not at all. Not whatsoever,” he said.

Toronto is also getting support from broadcasters like Charles Barkley and Jeff Van Gundy.

“That’s respect. It’s what you build your program for over the last seven years or whatever. That’s what you build for … My job is to not let our guys fall into that trap, because that trap is easier to fall into, to let people appreciate you and tell you how great you are and how they’re going to win the series. Then the other team gets juiced up and fired up to attack you.”

Especially if that other team has LeBron James.

AROUND THE RIM

Miles on whether he has to give any advice to rookie OG Anunoby about guarding LeBron? “I don’t think so. You don’t rock the boat for no reason,” Miles said. “You just got to continue to play hard, and continue to do what he’s doing. You talk about tendencies, coverages, places you want to send him, and making him work, but OG knows. He’s got a TV.” … Cleveland got 102 more points off of three-pointers than Toronto in last year’s series and 74 more the previous year … At the half, both sides had seven makes from beyond the arc and Cleveland only had one more after three, but finished with five more trifectas, which ended up being a big deal … James and Fred VanVleet mixed it up in the first half, with VanVleet picking up a foul and James getting away with a push. There was more animosity when Drake and Cavs behemoth Kendrick Perkins exchanged unpleasantries. We’d like to see Perkins and Jamaal Magloire square off at WrestleMania.

rwolstat@postmedia.com