Boston spoils Miami’s Big Three Debut
The Boston Celtics kicked off the season with a bang when they shocked the much-favoured Miami Heat, 88-80, on NBA opening night, Thursday in Boston.
The defending Eastern Conference champions leaned on their familiarity, as their own big three played like a well-oiled machine, spoiling Lebron James and Chris Bosh’s debut in a Miami Heat
uniform.
Ray Allen spearheaded Boston’s attack with his 20 points and was 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, while Paul Pierce chipped in 19 points, despite missing half of third and fourth period because
of back spasms.
Kevin Garnett also had a share of the spotlight as he finished the game with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while rising star Rajon Rondo scored only four points, but he dished out 17 assists,
two more than the entire Miami Heat team.
“The Big Shamroq”, Shaquille O’Neal, had nine points and seven rebounds in his Boston Celtics debut, adding a lot of excitement for the jam-packed TD Garden. O’Neal, who was signed as free
agent during the off-season, was James’ team mate last season and Wade’s partner when the Heat won the title in 2006.
"I just said to Paul as we were coming in here," Garnett said in the post-game conference referring to the atmosphere in the arena. "I said, 'Are we in the Finals already?' You know, but
it did have a lot of hype on it."
Despite absorbing a shocking defeat, Lebron James, who scored 31 points, said that they already knew even before the season started that it will take time before they will jell and play smoothly
as a team.
"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."
Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers was also convinced that the Heat will be an explosive team, and it was evident when Miami almost erased their huge lead in the second half, behind James’s
explosion.
"They're going to be great," he said. "They're going to be a lot better when we see them again. And, hopefully, we are as well."
Wade, who missed almost the entire pre-season schedule of the Heat because of a strained right hamstring, struggled to find his rhythm and was limited to 13 points in 4-of-16 shooting from
the field. Bosh added eight points and eight rebounds, but the Heat’s superstar trio had 15 of Miami’s 17 turnovers.
"This is one of 82," said Wade, who was visibly disappointed with the outcome of their debut. "Sorry if everyone thought we were going to go 82-0. It just ain't happening."
The Celtics held the Heat to just nine points in the opening period, and they continued to dominate and led by as much as 19 points, 41-22, with 2:13 left in the second quarter.
"I think everybody was just a little bit anxious and wanting to make it work so much," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Trailing by 15 at the half, 45-30, the Heat trimmed the lead down to six, 63-57, at the end of the third, after James took charge by scoring 15 points in the period.
The Celtics managed to hang on to their lead, but a 10-0 run in final four minutes of the game made it 83-80 with 1:10 left in the match.
However, Allen put an end to Boston’s comeback attempt with a three-point dagger in the next possession, followed by two crucial free throw conversions from Pierce.
The Celtics will go for a 2-0 start when they travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers, while the Heat will try to bounce back against the Philadelphia 76ers tomorrow.
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