IN THE LANE

GRUDGING RESPECT: Perhaps it’s merely a quest for competitive motivation, but LeBron James said that his Cleveland Cavaliers recognize there is more to the Eastern Conference than just the Boston Celtics. “I’m always concerned about teams getting better and better,” he said in Boston. “But I’m more concerned about us getting better and better. That’s the bigger thing. So it’s Washington and obviously this team right here. You know, Miami’s trying to get better and better. Toronto’s playing exceptional basketball right now. You know, the East is pretty dang good this year, and right now we’re not so good, great, not so good, see what happens next. But you’ve always got to be concerned with the competition, for sure.”

THE LONG AND SHORT: Heat 7-footer Kelly Olynyk was amused when asked whether it was “fun” to play against 7-3, 290-pound Detroit Pistons center Boban Marjanovic. “Maybe when he’s guarding you and he has to go out to the three-point line,” he said. “In the paint, it’s not very fun at all. He made Hassan look like Goran.” As in 7-foot Heat center Hassan Whiteside and 6-3 Heat guard Goran Dragic. “It’s one big human being,” Olynyk said. “He’s skilled, too, so it makes it even harder.”

HE HAS ONE: Josh McRoberts has taken the next step in his comeback attempt with the Dallas Mavericks, getting in uniform and onto the active roster for the first time this season. “You wouldn’t believe the things they’ve been sticking in his toes and ankle and feet — needles into bone — it’s an amazing recovery,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told the Dallas Morning News. “My hat’s off to him, and we have to bring him along the right way.” Said McRoberts, “There’s tougher things out there, don’t get me wrong. But it was a tough process. When I was in Miami I was in a boot constantly, it felt like. Going through rehab, getting out of [the boot] and then having a setback and you’re back in it — breaking the foot multiple times. You think you’re past it and then starting over. That happened a lot of times.”

THE PIPELINE: The Louisiana Tech-to-Utah Jazz pipeline has delivered Heat camp prospect Erik McCree to the Jazz on a two-way contract, signed away by Utah from the Heat’s Sioux Falls Skyforce G League affiliate. Of joining the Jazz in the wake of Louisiana Tech products Karl Malone and Paul Millsap thriving there, McCree told the Deseret News, “Paul Millsap, he came back a few times to play pick-up with us. Karl Malone was at the game a few times. So, I’m trying to keep it going.” The Jazz play Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

NEXT CHANCE: Former Heat forward Gerald Green said he is not taking this latest opportunity with the Houston Rockets for granted, having been out of the league until recently signing. “Houston took a chance on me when nobody else did,” he told the Houston Chronicle. “For me to give it my all every time on the court, that’s so easy. I still got a lot of work to do. I haven’t really done anything. I’m trying to be great. I’m trying to be as great as I can. This is what I’ve dreamed about man. Putting this jersey on is a straight honor, me being from Houston.”