Heat's Anthony starring on defense

It was late Thursday in the visiting Heat locker room after Miami took a three-games-to-none series lead against the 76ers, and Joel Anthony was getting the business from superstar teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Anthony was conducting media interviews after giving the Heat four points, four rebounds, and stellar defense in more than 29 minutes, when James and Wade piped in.

They were having fun teasing Anthony about his new "celebrity" status, and all Anthony could do was take it all in.

For someone averaging 3.7 points during this Eastern Conference playoff series, Anthony has surely made an impact on the defensive end.

He has five blocked shots, more than anybody else in the series, and he has altered several others.

In Game 2, coach Erik Spoelstra had him guard Thaddeus Young after the Sixers forward scored a team-high 20 points in Miami's opening 97-89 win.

Young scored 18 points during the Heat's 94-73 victory in Game 2, but 10 came in the fourth quarter, when the outcome was all but decided.

Thursday night, Young was limited to four points on 1-for-8 shooting in the Heat's 100-94 victory.

The Heat will look to close the best-of-seven series in Sunday's 1 p.m. matchup at the Wells Fargo Center.

The statistic that probably has shown Anthony's value the most is minutes played. He is averaging more than 27 per game this series. He averaged 19.5 in the regular season.

The 6-foot-9 Anthony, signed by the Heat as an undrafted free agent out of UNLV in 2007, says he isn't surprised by his play.

"I definitely expected to be able to produce and play well when I am on the court," Anthony said after Friday's brief workout at St. Joseph's University. "I think what is surprising is the reaction of everyone."

Anthony also isn't surprised by the ribbing he has taken from James and Wade.

"The guys are getting on me a little bit," he said, laughing. "When it's time to get serious we get serious, but when it is time to joke around they aren't pulling any punches, and it is all in good fun."

Wade admittedly has enjoyed teasing his teammate, but he is serious when talking about Anthony's impact on this series.

"Joel has done a fabulous job," Wade said. "He is doing exactly what we want him to do - come in the game, bring energy, and make it tough on the other team to get in the paint."

Spoelstra said he put Anthony on Young because the coach thinks both are elite athletes in the NBA. Besides defense, Anthony provides another major benefit on the floor.

"Hustle is a talent and a skill, just as shooting a three-point shot and rebounding are, and Joel's ability to raise the energy level of the entire team is a skill you can't find a lot of places in the NBA," Spoelstra said.

"I enjoy looking at his box score and seeing how unremarkable it looks almost every time, yet his impact on the game is tangible."

Notes. Wade, who banged his shoulder during Thursday's second quarter and was in noticeable pain but stayed in the game, said Friday he was doing better. "It was a little sore during the game, but I got a little treatment on it at halftime, came out, and then forgot about it," said Wade, who had shoulder surgery in 2007. "After the game, it was sore. . . . I think I will feel better [Saturday] and even better Sunday."