James adds 2nd son to his family lineup

LeBron James hugs girlfriend Savannah Brinson after the Cavaliers defeated the Pistons for the Eastern Conference title.

CLEVELAND - Another "small, small forward" was added to LeBron James' family early yesterday morning.

James' girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, gave birth to their second child on the eve of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Bryce Maximus was born at 12:51 a.m.yesterday at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital south of Cleveland. Bryce weighed in at eight pounds, six ounces.

"Win lose or draw, this is special to my family," James said. "Me being in the finals is special to my family, to have another James come into the family, it doesn't get no better than that."

James said he did not sleep Wednesday night but took a nap after yesterday's shootaround.

"Late night for him, but he's young," Cavs coach Mike Brown said.

Brinson chose the child's first name, James said, because he got to choose his first son's name, that of 2 1/2 year old LeBron Jr. James said he chose Maximus as the middle name because Gladiator is his favorite movie.

James had said he would not miss a Finals game for the birth but was thankful for the timing.

"I think Savannah's more happy than any one of us, getting the baby out," James said.

Asked what positions his sons would play on the basketball court, James, said, "Right now they look like two small, small forwards. Kind of like Tayshaun Prince."

BOOBIE AGAIN: Daniel "Boobie" Gibson started for the Cavs again last night despite shooting 1-for-10 in Game 3 in his first start of the playoffs. He said he felt his off night was not because he was nervous starting as a rookie in the finals.

"Just not shooting the ball, just not making shots, that's it," Gibson said. "I felt like the shots that I was taking were shots that I'm capable of making. I've just got to step in and be confident and knock them down."

Gibson knocked down his first 3-point attempt of the game in the first quarter.

NOT TOO OLD: Going into last night, Bruce Bowen had played the most minutes of any Spur in the finals. Bowen, who turned 36 yesterday, joins Robert Horry, 36, Brent Barry, 35, and Michael Finley, 34, as key contributors for San Antonio despite their age.

Bowen has needed to play so much because he has been the most effective defender on James.

"It just says that it doesn't matter for all the guys that are over 30 how it starts out in the NBA, but whether you can get in there and find a niche," Bowen said. "That's something that I've been fortunate enough to do, and I relish the opportunity that I do have in being able to be able to lead my team in minutes right now at this point in the season.

"I'm really happy with that, and it's due to all the hard work that I've put in in preparation with my body."

SEEN AT THE Q: 2006 American Idol winner Taylor Hicks sang the national anthem. Anticipating the game, fans cheered through most of the performance.

FINALLY: Cavs forward Ira Newble, who has been outspoken about genocide in Darfur, invited 15 Darfur refugees to last night's game. The Sudanese men came to Cleveland 16 years ago and are part of the Dinka tribe.