11/21/24
October 27, 2010
Heat Lose Opener to Celtics: Facing chants of "overrated" on the road, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade lost their season opener to the Boston Celtics, 88-80. James scored 31 points and offered this reason for the defeat: "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."
posted by rcade to basketball at 09:20 AM - 30 comments
This is my favorite photo of the game moments after Ray Allen sealed the victory and LeBron failed to do anything to stop it.
Look, it's silly to read too much into this game, the Heat will improve, the Celtics will continue to age. There is a satisfaction in seeing the Heat start 0-1, though, especially with the surrounding hype. That quotation by LeBron is telling, the Heat's starting "point guard" had 0 assists last night. Zero! Rajan Rondo had 17 assists.
The Heat need to quickly figure out that this is not LeBron's team, despite the fact that he is the "king".
posted by jeremias at 09:40 AM on October 27, 2010
Yeah, nice to see them lose the opener, even though, if healthy, they're going to absolutely demolish some teams. Even with a poor night by Wade and Bosh, and down a lot at half, they still made a game of it. But this does show a solid team can still run with them, so there's no need to merely hand the championship trophy over to the Heat just yet.
posted by dyams at 11:28 AM on October 27, 2010
Just one game but what a great start to the season. I wish I had a list of all the stupid things these guys said in the off season. Stuff like Lebron implying that they will be a dynasty and are expecting numerous rings not just one. Also I remember something like they would win 70 or 75 games etc. You have to love the fact that after all the talk and hype as of now they are winless. Usually if you are going to talk about winning six rings it is because you have won five not zero. Usually if you talk about winning over seventy games you have at least won one.
It is just so easy to hate the Miami Heat now. I even loved watching a 350 plus pound Shaq hanging from the rim after a dunk .
The icing on the cake will be when things start to go bad for these guys and they start pointing fingers at each other. It was sort of ironic that James left Cleveland because he could not be the guy and wanted help and even in last night lost he had to be the guy and the help he left for wasn't there. Again James finds himself scoring a lot of points, carrying the load and loosing to the top tier competition. Although I fully expect the Heat to take out their frustrations on the Sixers in the next game, I will be hoping for the Heat to loose every game. With the target they have painted on themselves they can expect the best from every team they play every night.
posted by Atheist at 11:40 AM on October 27, 2010
Celtics weren't at the top of their game either, not having Perkins is a huge blow to what they try to do defensively.
Miami will be good. Wade and LeBron need to work more on getting their mates involved, especially against teams that defend well. Heat's success will depend on guys like Haslem and Miller hitting easy shots and the not-so big 3 realizing that 12 points and 14 assists is a bigger contribution than 31 points and 0 assists.
Speaking of not being on their game, that was some of the most horrendous officiating I've seen in a while. Possibly refs still not in game shape and out of position, hopefully not the usual "the superstar gets the call" crap / enhanced 2010 version.
posted by cixelsyd at 12:08 PM on October 27, 2010
Speaking of not being on their game, that was some of the most horrendous officiating I've seen in a while.
I think the Laker game was worse.
If someone would have told me 5 years ago that Shaq, KG, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Lebron, Wade, and Bosh would all participate in the same game I'd have thought it would have to be an all star game.
posted by tron7 at 12:23 PM on October 27, 2010
James scored 31 points and offered this reason for the defeat: "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."
LeBron really needs to drink a big glass of Shut the Fuck Up. I suppose it could have been worse. He could said Race had something to do with it.
Look, it's silly to read too much into this game
Very true. But still SO enjoyable.
posted by cjets at 01:00 PM on October 27, 2010
It was sort of ironic that James left Cleveland because he could not be the guy..
LeBron did leave Cleveland because he 'could not be the guy', he left because the Cleveland organization provided him with mediocre players and LeBron wasn't satisfied with the help that he was getting to win a championship and he also so happen to be a free agent who could sign with any team he chose to play for. Most would agree that he carried that team for his 7 years there, was he supposed to content with having to do it all for another 7 years?
I also loved that my Celtics won last night.
posted by BornIcon at 01:33 PM on October 27, 2010
When you have so many options, it's something I'm not accustomed to
21 shots / 3 assists / 8 turnovers from a guy who monopolizes the ball on offence, not a winning stat line against most opposition.
posted by cixelsyd at 01:41 PM on October 27, 2010
Most would agree that he carried that team for his 7 years* there
*Not counting the playoffs.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:48 PM on October 27, 2010
LeBron was the reason that Cleveland even made the playoffs. Let's just see how far Cleveland goes this year without LeBron.
posted by BornIcon at 02:16 PM on October 27, 2010
As I watched the game, all I could think was, "There's not enough basketballs." The NBA needs to change the rules for Miami and let them play with at least two.
posted by graymatters at 03:01 PM on October 27, 2010
Lebron made it very clear in his off season statements that he did not want to be the one the team had to depend on every game for wins. He said on numerous occasions how much he looked forward to not having to be the guy every game. So last night he hogs the ball, does not get many assists, turns the ball over a lot and this is with all his so call help and all star cast.
Funny being here in Los Angeles we are used to players that not only want to be the guy but relish it. No offense to Lebron's playing skills but mentally he is not tough. Michael Jordan had a team built around him. Kobe Bryant had a team built around him and the difference is that when those teams got into the playoffs both Kobe and Jordan rose to the occasion and would not be denied victory. Lebron has not proved he has the mental toughness in the playoffs to rise against adversity and lead a team to victory. Even a team with the best regular season record in the NBA. Lebron joined an all star team and frankly it won't be enough for him because his style of play is that of a guy who is used to doing everything. Both he and Wade do not play away from the ball because they have never been asked to and don't know how to, at this point anyway.
The biggest problem the Heat have is as greymatters said, they don't play with two balls so having Lebron and Wade on the same team, although it adds depth for when one is on the bench, having both on the court at the same time is almost a waste. If I were coaching that team I would reduce both players minutes and have them take turns being on the court very well rested while they trade off running the game. Then the big advantage of having them both would be they could each play all out half the time while the first team of their opponents get exhausted trying to keep up.
posted by Atheist at 03:41 PM on October 27, 2010
If I were coaching that team I would reduce both players minutes...
And you'd soon find yourself talking about them on TNT next to Jeff Van Gundy, once the players, agents, and fans chewed you up and spit you out. Don't know if you noticed, but not many coaches in today's NBA have the juice to get away with a move like that, and last time I looked,"Erik Spoelstra" is not pronounced "Phil Jackson"...
Boston made it a habit last season of building up huge leads in the first half, only to have to scramble in the second half to stay in the game...so I wouldn't count that as a mark in Miami's "pro" column. Miami will probably win 60+ games this season, but unless they learn to play together, they will get about as far as Cleveland last season, and I predict a similar LeBron disappearance if a playoff series swings to the other team...
posted by MeatSaber at 03:59 PM on October 27, 2010
last time I looked,"Erik Spoelstra" is Filipino for Pat Riley. And if you see many more losses like this, Riles will be coaching the Heat again.
posted by cjets at 04:48 PM on October 27, 2010
Bosh scored 8 points?
8?!
Congratulations, Chris. You've converted yourself from a star into a role player, but still get paid like you mean something to the team.
I would like to see Toronto fans chanting "sin-gle di-gits!" *clap* *clap* *clapclapclap* at Bosh when he returns to the city later this year.
posted by grum@work at 05:20 PM on October 27, 2010
Bosh scored 8 points?
In fairness to Bosh ...
1. He was guarded all game long by Garnett, the best 4 position defender in the game.
2. Miami's offence last night was high screen for LeBron and Wade and not much else. Need to get Bosh the ball a few times where he's productive.
posted by cixelsyd at 05:33 PM on October 27, 2010
I wish someone would keep a plus/minus stat for when all three are on the floor at the same time.
posted by graymatters at 05:55 PM on October 27, 2010
Meatsaber- I agree that it would take balls for a coach to keep a top paid star on the bench but I see it as the only way this situation works. Sure the league, the fans, the owner and the players themselves will not stand for it but it the case of Miami, too many chefs ruin the meal. In either case you can't get your moneys worth out of these guys playing them together.
I agree with your assessment if the coach were to do but that doesn't mean it isn't a good idea. All players slow down a little during the game and it seems to me that a well rested and fresh Wade or James through out the entire game would put a lot more pressure on the defenses in short spurts rather than having one of them off the ball a lot of the time.
posted by Atheist at 06:58 PM on October 27, 2010
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a ballsy move, and probably good for the team in a basketball sense. But how do you sell it? No matter who's playing when, it will be perceived that the player who's not in the starting lineup has been benched, and by extension demoted. Any way you spin it, someone's poor widdow feewings is gonna get hurt. And unhappy NBA players usually spell certain death for their coaches. So, while I agree it would be a good "basketball coach" move, it's not necessarily a good "NBA coach" move...
posted by MeatSaber at 07:31 PM on October 27, 2010
In fairness to Bosh ...
1. He was guarded all game long by Garnett, the best 4 position defender in the game.
Well, considering he averaged over 25 points per game against Boston last year, and over 20 points per game against Garnett-led Celtics over the last 3 seasons, I have to figure it's something else this time...
2. Miami's offence last night was high screen for LeBron and Wade and not much else. Need to get Bosh the ball a few times where he's productive.
...which explains it, and also explains what I meant. He's gone from star to role player.
SIN-GLE-DI-GITS!
*clap* *clap* *clapclapclap*
posted by grum@work at 08:06 PM on October 27, 2010
Michael Jordan had a team built around him. Kobe Bryant had a team built around him and the difference is that when those teams got into the playoffs both Kobe and Jordan rose to the occasion and would not be denied victory.
Both examples are of 2 guys that had great players surrounding them, some even Hall of Famers who were able to compliment the star player. Who did LeBron have playing with him? Anderson Varejao, Mo Williams, Delonte West, Jamario Moon? Com'on now, you're comparing apples to oranges.
The biggest problem the Heat have is...they don't play with two balls
We could take that in so many ways.
posted by BornIcon at 07:36 AM on October 28, 2010
The ESPN Heat Index(TM) has been updated to show that the Heat are predicted to go 0-82.
posted by Bonkers at 07:48 AM on October 28, 2010
Both examples are of 2 guys that had great players surrounding them, some even Hall of Famers who were able to compliment the star player. Who did LeBron have playing with him? Anderson Varejao, Mo Williams, Delonte West, Jamario Moon? Com'on now, you're comparing apples to oranges.
That's the beauty of basketball. Are the players great because the team is playing great or is the team great because the players are great? I don't think you can make a very persuasive argument that Lebron makes the players around him better. A much better argument can be made for the other two guys. Lebron's choice to go to the Heat makes this argument moot.
posted by bperk at 10:00 AM on October 28, 2010
The Cavs record this year should be persuasively bad. The Cavs won 61 games last year, 66 the year before that. If Lebron wasn't making teammates better then how did that happen? Yeah, it went bad in the playoffs and they were upset by hot teams. They've still been one of the best teams in the league.
What more do you want him to do? There's nothing really there statistically that needs work so are we just talking the leadership aspect?
posted by tron7 at 01:13 PM on October 28, 2010
What more do you want him to do? There's nothing really there statistically that needs work so are we just talking the leadership aspect?
I think people wanted him to stick it out with the Cavs and see the thing through until they finally did win a championship, which I truly believe they could have done. The Michael's and Kobe's didn't take off, but rode things out until the right pieces were in place and the championships started coming. LeBron will never get the type of recognition he wants for winning if it comes with the Heat. They'll all assume he needed other huge stars to get him over the top, and whether that's fair or accurate won't be the issue. If LeBron can live with that, then that's all that matters. Some of his insecurities that come out make me seriously doubt he'll ever be satisfied with the hits his persona has taken.
With all this said, I have to state the obvious that James is a great player and I fully expect him to have a big year with his usual awesome stats.
posted by dyams at 01:41 PM on October 28, 2010
Yeah, I get that. My questions were in response to the assertion that Lebron doesn't make his teammates better.
posted by tron7 at 02:13 PM on October 28, 2010
Interestingly enough, last night the Cavaliers without Lebron defeated the Celtics. Something the Heat with Lebron, Wade and Bosch could not do. Is it possible that Lebron made the Cavaliers a worse team by turning into the Cleveland Lebron James'.
Funny Boston blows out the Cavs in the playoffs with Lebron. Boston beats the Heat with Lebron and then looses to the Cavs the first time they play without Lebron.
Nothing scientific but I just sayin........Maybe Boston just has Lebron's number and are not as good against teams that don't have Lebron.
Or then again maybe the NBA has a script that everyone is following in order to save the league from fan apathy and financial ruin. Regardless of what we all think, it is hard to deny this whole situation, combined with the opening schedule of Boston playing Miami and then coincidentally the Cavs the next night has added to fan interest regardless of how they feel.
posted by Atheist at 03:59 PM on October 28, 2010
From my biased Boston perspective, the loss to the Cavs looked more like a combination of an older team playing on back-to-back nights and a terrible set of refs. In their defense, they were awful for both teams, but they seemed swayed by the crowd. Oh yeah, and a really small-town act by the official timekeeper who gave the Cavs about 5 seconds on an inbounds play where the clock was at 1 second. They hit a three that pretty much finished the Celtics.
posted by yerfatma at 08:44 AM on October 29, 2010
A much better argument can be made for the other two guys.
If that were true, why did it take Kobe 10 years to win his 4th and 5th ring?
From my biased Boston perspective, the loss to the Cavs looked more like a combination of an older team playing on back-to-back nights and a terrible set of refs
DING! DING! We have a winner.
Let's just remember that the Celtics are built for the playoffs. They'll have their usual off days in the regular season but once the playoffs come around, they should be hitting on all cylinders since they won't have to play back to back games.
posted by BornIcon at 01:50 PM on October 29, 2010
Nice dig at his former teammates including one who was on the Celtics last night when they beat the Heat. Stay classy LeBron.
Although, I suggest other fans hold off on the overrated chant because that seemed to be the only thing that woke up the big money three last night.