Despite all the talk during the off−season about the potential dominance of Miami's three superstars, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh look like little more than three incredibly talented players trying to figure out how they can compliment each other's skills — for the moment, at least.
For most of the first half of the team's 88−80 loss to the Celtics on Tuesday, it appeared that each of the three were out to prove their selflessness, with none of them appearing to want to take command of the game.
Wade looked hampered by the hamstring injury that kept him out of almost the entire preseason, and his rust was evident not just in his ugly 4−16 shooting display but also in several traveling violations. Bosh fared no better in the shooting department, hitting just three of 11 shots from the floor.
Throughout the game it appeared that of the three, Bosh had the hardest time finding an offensive rhythm, as the ball almost always seemed to find itself in the hands of James and Wade.
James' second−half performance was one of the few redeeming qualities of the Heat's opening−night loss. It was at that point that he decided to start doing things that only he can, like step−back three pointers and unique drives to the hoop. Thanks to LeBron, the Heat was able to briefly climb back into the game.
Overall, though, the team's performance was indicative of what many believe will be early setbacks for the talented squad. The offense struggled to find a rhythm, the team often looked disorganized, and the bench was not able to contribute much. While it was only the first game of the season, fans in Miami have to feel a little disappointed as their counterparts in Cleveland are surely mustering the little energy they have left to have a bitter laugh at their ex−star.
On the Celtics' side, the season−opening win over Miami was driven by the same factors that brought the Green within six minutes of a title a year ago: a stifling, relentless defense and a timely offense.
Boston and the TD Garden crowd were clearly treating the opening game like the playoffs. The energized fans spent a bulk of their time standing, and the Celtics starters, especially Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, spent a large amount of time on the court for a regular season game. These substitution patterns — along with a postseason−like intensity — made it clear that the Celtics wanted to start the season with a statement.
Rajon Rondo led the team with a quintessential Rondo game: four points, five rebounds and 17 assists. Yes, 17 assists. Rondo was everywhere on the court Tuesday night, and when the Heat looked to restrict his movement, he would simply penetrate, shift the defense and find the open man.
Allen was the main benefactor of this drive−and−kick offense, leading the Celtics with 20 points, including five three−pointers. Rondo did a fantastic job of getting everyone involved early, especially the newest member of the squad, the Harvard Square statue himself, Shaquille O'Neal.
After lighting up the faces of passers−by last week in Cambridge's most famous intersection, O'Neal provided 325 pounds of momentum for the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Early in the first quarter, O'Neal shook the foundation of the Garden when he trailed a fast break down the lane, took a pass from Rondo and slammed the ball down. But the cheers were equally as loud for his first trip to the charity stripe when the notoriously poor free−throw shooter knocked down his first two attempts.
As the oldest active player in the NBA at 38 years of age, O'Neal seems to have led a resurgence of energy for the Boston squad — an energy that was palpable on Tuesday night.
But it was not all peaches and cream for the Celtics.
Last season's struggles with turnovers and closing out opponents reared their ugly heads, but in the end, it was the energy that proved to be the difference between Boston and Miami. The Celtics were expressive and enthusiastic, displaying constant chatter that extended from those on the court to coach Doc Rivers and the bench players. Members of the Heat, for all their talent, were stoic, reserved and seemingly unsure of their own abilities.
There is no doubt that Miami will improve, but on the opening night of the season, the Celtics proved once again that they are still the team to beat in the East.
