Tough Start

October 26, opening night of the 2010 NBA season, has been a date that everyone has been waiting for for months.  It was the most anticipated opening game of the NBA ever, and was hyped to the maximum.  There were over 500 press passes given out, and everyone – coaches, players, media, and fans alike – acted like this was a playoff game, rather than the first game out of 82 of the regular season.  Yet take it for what it is, one game out of 82, and know that the Heat will learn from it and improve greatly in the coming weeks.  

Right from the start of the game it was clear that Miami is rusty and they need to work out some kinks.  The big three of Wade, James, and Bosh need time playing together to work through how to use each other and play off of one another well.  There is little cohesion currently, which was shown last night right from the start when Wade cut to the hoop looking for the ball in transition while James passed it to where he began his cut (on the three point line) and the ball went out of bounds.  This continued much of the game, as Wade, James, and Bosh combined for 15 of the Heat’s 17 turnovers.  

"It's a feel-out process," James said. "When you have so many options, it's something I'm not accustomed to, having that many threats out on the court at the same time."

It was evident that while seemingly healthy (not showing any signs of limping or not being able to go 100%); Wade was very out of form and has some work to get done.  He was held to 13 points, while shooting just 4-16 from the floor.  I, for one, am not worried – I know Wade will bounce back.  He just needs some time playing in real games, at full-speed, to find his rhythm and begin playing as he is capable of playing.  

After Wade gets back in a rhythm, and the team is able to form a cohesive unit, Miami will be virtually unstoppable.  Yet it may take a little time, as everyone on the team knows.  

“I already imagine we’ll be much better tomorrow,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “When we were going through our planning in July and August we knew it wouldn’t necessarily hit on all cylinders right away.”

“This is a work in progress,” James said. “We all know Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Both the players and coaches know it may take some time, and in the NBA season there is plenty of it.  This game last night was just the first of 82 in the regular season, and that is what it should be taken as.  It was just one loss out of many games to play.  

"Sorry if everyone thought we were going 82-0," Wade said. "It wasn't going to happen."
The Heat are downplaying the loss, admitting they were rusty and not fully ready to open the season.  That’s what happens when injuries hit, and all you can do is look forward to getting better and playing the next game.  Miami does not have to wait long, as they play Wednesday October 27 in Philadelphia.  They will take what they learned from the Celtics game and try to work some things out, and will only get better the more they play together.  

“They’re going to be a lot better when we see them again”  Celtics head coach Doc Rivers stated in his press conference following the game.

This is true, and November 11 will see a rematch of the Heat verses the Celtics in Miami.