The most anticipated summer in NBA history came to a close last night with the opening games of the 2010-11 season, and even before the first final buzzer of the night rung out in Boston, one fact loomed ominously in the minds of Heat fans around America. You CAN'T buy team chemistry. Thats right, for all the wheeling and dealing and big surprises that took place this summer, it was a team that managed to retain its 5 starters from last year and add to an already talented set of bench players, that looked most likely to flourish in this years race to the NBA finals next May.
For the Boston Celtics this off season looked like it was going to be a fairly miserable affair. With many unsure just how long Boston's four leaf clover of Allen, Pierce, Garnett and Rondo would remain together in the Irish-American capital, and others wondering if this was the year that Head Coach Cos Rivers would walk, the free agency period of summer 2010 seemed like it could be the end of Boston's NBA Finals challenge for the next few years. Yet on opening night the Celtics found themselves, not only with their 4 superstars healthy, under contract and happy to be a part of the 2008-09 Finals winning franchise, but also a with few key additions to their roster, most noticeably Basketballs biggest star of the last 15 years Shaquille O'Neal.
Their opponents last night however had an off season filled with rumour, money and mass media attention. The Miami Heat won the NBA lottery in the summer when they re-signed their star player Dwayne Wade in what was the most hotly contested free agency market of the last 20 years. Then Miami revealed to the world that they had hit the triple double of all free agency acquisitions by signing Chris Bosh, and LeBron James arguably two of the most highly valued players in the NBA. Once Miami had their three golden eggs in the basket, they set about signing a highly talented supporting cast including Cleveland's Big Z, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Point Guard Eddie House (formerly of the Celtics) and Forward Juwan Howard in an attempt to guarantee that the NBA Championship head to the beaches of South Florida in May 2011.
Yet like many teams that have tried to throw money at league title or world championship the Miami Heat look like they too are going to have to learn that money can buy you the talent, but you cant buy and bond a team over one summer. Chelsea FC had to wait over 18months for their first Premier League title, and Manchester City didn't manage to find a way into the Champions League last season, despite the millions they spent on new talent. Miami could easily become another team to add to this list, and last night seemed to reveal these issues.
Boston looked smooth, controlled and like a team that had been playing together for the last 4 years. Miami impressed, but weren't allowed to play the kind of basketball that a lesser team would let them play. James and Wade were hurried and kept under close guard by Pierce and Allen, while Shaq and Garnett kept Bosh and Big Z under wraps on the glass. Miami's Big 3 were not silent on the night, as they managed to rack up 52 of the Heat's 80 points, LeBron being the X -Factor to the trio as he totalled 31 points but only shot 10-21 from the floor. Boston's three Musketeers rose to the challenge as they too notched up 49 of the Celtics 88 point, with Ray Allen hitting 5-8 from three point range and getting himself a solid 20 points on the night, closely followed by Pierce who managed 19.
It was Boston's little big man Rajon Rondo that seemed to be the difference between two sides who were evenly matched all over the floor. His penetrating drives inside and ability to dish the rock in the tightest of situations left easy sinks for Allen, Garnett and Pierce, and the 4th year Guard picked up 17 assists (almost 3 times that of Dwayne Wade, Miami's leading playmaker who finished with 6). Rondos domination of the Point Guard position highlighted a fact that has almost been overlooked by many in the run up to this season. Miami need a Point Guard of their own to create and provide for their superstar line-up. Kobe and Pau have Derek Fisher in LA. Orlando'sDwight Howard has Jameer Nelson, and the Phoenix Suns have Steve Nash. All are championship contenders, and all have above average Point Guards.
Miami have 81 games left to play this year, and there is no doubt that they will go on to crush a number of teams both in the regular season and the playoffs, but last night, after an off season of glitz and glamour, the Heat have been brought back down to Earth with a bump, with a loss to a rival Championship contender with a star studded roster, one of the best Point Guards in the game, and a team spirt and chemistry that only playing with each other for a number of years can bring. Today on the second day of the 2010-11 NBA season, the Miami Heat sit with a .000 record.
