LeBron James admits he's had Dwyane Wade, Heat on his mind

Well, it's starting.

The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers each lead their series just 1-0, but James did respond to a question today -- after shootaround in preparation for Cleveland's Game 2 against Atlanta -- about whether he's thought about facing Dwyane Wade in the playoffs.

And he chose to answer.

This is from Joe Vardon at Cleveland.com:

"I think naturally of course. That's since I've came back," James said. "It'd be great to play against those guys in the postseason. Throughout my whole career, I've always wanted to go against (Dwyane) Wade in a playoff series. We've always talked about it even before we became teammates in '10. It's not been heavy on my mind but it's crossed my mind throughout my whole career."

Now that the Heat is facing the Raptors, the Cavaliers are the only team that Miami hasn't encountered in a playoff series.

And, of course, Wade and James were together for four postseasons.

I don't expect Wade to engage this topic publicly; he's made it too clear, all season, that he's merely focused on his own team.

But James has been willing. 

He and Wade are close, of course, closer maybe than they've ever been.

And we keep getting closer and closer to the series everyone wants to see.