With all the hype surrounding tonight’s opening night of the 2010 NBA season, I will be keeping a running blog, much like Bill Simmons of ESPN does during playoff games. At 7:30pm, the Miami Heat open up their season in Boston verses the Celtics.
First Quarter –
Both the Heat and the Celtics look very rusty, and are getting off to a slow start. Wade started the game, got a steal early in the game, went coast-to-coast, but missed the layup. Nonetheless, Heat fans must be glad to see him running strong and not seeming to be held up by the hamstring at all yet. After ten minutes of playing time and an extremely slow start, Wade was 0-4 from the field, had three turnovers, one foul, and was replaced by Eddie House. At the end of a very sloppy first quarter Boston is leading 16-9, and neither team is playing well.
Second Quarter –
Wade is starting off this quarter much like he played the last one, but two and a half minutes into the quarter he made his first field goal of the season, on a layup made in transition. A minute later he also made a quick move and drove baseline, getting fouled and making both free throws. The Heat overall are still not playing well halfway through the second quarter, as in the last 9 minutes of game time they are 2-16 from the floor and have four turnovers. With just over five minutes left in the quarter, Wade just made a nice defensive play, got a steal at the top of the Boston key, took it the length of the floor, and dunked it. Although he is not shooting well, it is good to see that Wade can run well and is not hampered by the hamstring.
Boston has started to take control of the game, hitting open shots and getting to the basket well. At the end of the first half they are winning 45-30. This first half has not been what everyone has anticipated, as both team are clearly rusty and are off to a slow start. Miami’s big three are struggling, as LeBron James has 10 points, Wade has 7, and Bosh has only 4.
Third Quarter –
Miami has had a lack of rhythm all game thus far, and to switch things up Wade starts the half on the bench. LeBron takes this time to go to work, and leads the Heat on a comeback. About halfway through the quarter, LeBron had scored or assisted on the previous 14 Miami points. Boston had led by as many as 19 points, however at the end of the third quarter they were winning by only six points, 63-57.
Fourth Quarter –
Wade begins the quarter sitting out again (beginning to wonder if he is hurting, if Miami is just being cautious of the injury, if Spoelstra feels he is just not yet ready to play significant minutes, or if it is from his slow start). Halfway through the quarter Wade makes a nice drive to the basket and hits the bucket. The game continues to go back and forth, and with 1:20 left in the game Miami is using both James and Wade to make key baskets. In the midst of an 8-0 Miami run leading up to the 1:20 mark, LeBron hit a three, and Wade hit a step-back three on the next time down the floor. An offensive foul on Boston gave Miami the ball back, James drove to the hoop and brought Miami to within three points, 83-80, with 1:10 left in the game. That was the closest they would get though, and they ended up losing 88-80. LeBron James had 31 points, Wade had 13, and Bosh, Haslem, and House each had 8 points.
No comments:
Post a Comment