Charles Barkley has no idea what to expect from fans when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Miami Heat on Thursday night in a nationally televised game on TNT.

Barkley just knows one thing when it comes to LeBron James, who will play at Quicken Loans Arena for the first time since his ballyhooed "The Decision" announcement last summer.

"I wouldn't stand close to him," said Barkley, half jokingly. "I hope nothing bad happens, but no one knows what's going to happen. Everyone's trying to guess, which doesn't make sense because those are some mad people in Cleveland."

In the most anticipated sports event in this city in recent memory, an expected sellout crowd will get the chance to express their harbored feelings since James took his talents to South Beach. It's such a national event that TNT's Overtime studio show with Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson will set up shop inside of The Q.

Barkley has made several comments since the summer about James' free agent move, from calling "The Decision" a punk move (for which Barkley later apologized), to how James disrespected the Cavaliers' organization by not telling them in advance.

And Barkley said Cleveland fans have a right to be upset, not necessarily because James left as a free agent, but in how he chose to make his exit.

"Clearly, LeBron handled the entire situation wrong," Barkley said. "What sucks the most is that they're begging people to come to Heat games. That's one of the reasons why many of us said LeBron should stay in Cleveland. He was adored in Cleveland. The fans are loyal. Now he's in Miami and they're begging people to come to the game."

Not only have the crowds been smaller than anticipated in Miami, but the Heat have not played up to expectation. The Heat is 10-8. There was talk about 70-plus wins and a cake-walk to an NBA Title.

Barkley, who talked about Thursday's game on Conan Tuesday night, said the Heat's problem is their pace.

"They just don't play fast enough," Barkley said. "They walk the ball up court. As great a player as Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are, they are guys who need the ball. LeBron is the only who one who can play without the ball. Those guys will continue to struggle until they pick up the pace."

It appeared that slow pace could have cost Heat coach Eric Spoelstra his job. An ESPN report cited sources about several Heat players not happy about their roles under Spoelstra's tutelage.

"That's bogus," Barkley said. "Eric Spoelstra has nothing to do with this. This is on those players, but Spoelstra will get the blame and he might end up being the scapegoat. Players, not just in Miami, will do crazy stuff to get coaches fired."

Crazy is the last thing Barkley wants to happen in Cleveland on Thursday. He expects hostile feelings from the fans, but he hopes nothing over the top. But either way, it won't be like Barkley's first return to Philadelphia when in 1992 he demanded a trade and was sent to Phoenix.

"The Philadelphia fans gave me a five minute standing ovation," said Barkley, about his return. "It will clearly be different for LeBron. But whatever happens on Thursday, it's all on the city of Cleveland."