LITTLE ROCK — Well, Miami wasn’t built in a day.
The Heat, the most notorious team in NBA history - before ever taking the floor - debuted its Big Three on Tuesday night, showing that reports of its greatness are exaggerated or, at least, premature.
Smacked across the face by the bigger, deeper and way-tired-of-hearing-about-them Celtics, the Heat did get back in it, cutting a 19-point deficit to three at the end with LeBron James scoring 21 of his 31 points in the second half.
The Celtics then secured their 88-80 victory, and there went Miami’s perfect season.
“It’s one of 82,” said Dwyane Wade, who went down the chute with Chris Bosh, with whom he combined for 21 points, missing 20 of 27 shots. “I’m not sure anyone thought we’d go 82-0. It’s not going to happen.”
In a rare triumph of perspective, no one said anything about a perfect season.
On the other hand, credible basketball people like Jeff Van Gundy said the Heat might break the Bulls’ 72-10 record.
Credible or not, ESPN plans daily updates of the Heat’s chance to win 73, which remains within reach, mathematically.
Unfortunately for the Heat, it had a ragged preseason with Wade missing almost all of it and Mike Miller breaking a wrist at the end, putting him out until the All-Star break.
Nor was it good fortune to open against the proud Celtics.
“Who cares?” said Kevin Garnett, asked once too often about Miami’s retooling. “We did some retooling ourselves.”
Since this really was one of 82, and, Miami Coach Eric Spoelstrasaid, it was also Wade’s first real action since last May, it might be a tad early to write the Heat off.
However, if it was clear on paper Miami was smaller than the top teams, the difference between them and the once-squatty, now-hulking Celtics was scary with Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal alongside Garnett and Glen Davis, even with Kendrick Perkins out.
The slender Bosh looked like a small forward next to them. He played like one, too, taking mid-range jumpers and missing most of them.
So, if Miami will surely be better, watch what happens against the Celtics, the Lakers and the Magic, who tower over them.
There is also a question of how James and Wade fit. Both have always had the ball; now one must play off it.
James could go into the post, which Celtics Coach Doc Riverscalled “the scariest change for all of us.
Of course, all you can do is pray James doesn’t go down there, as he never seems to do. It happened only a few times Tuesday, but stay tuned.
“I think right now it’s a feel-out process for me, D-Wade, for Chris and for the rest of the guys,” James said. “I talked to those guys. It almost felt like we were being too unselfish. ... The reason we’re here and the reason we’ve been successful is because we put ourselves to be aggressive at all times, no matter who’s out on the court.”
The expectations and extra pressure aren’t a surprise, and Spoelstra isn’t concerned yet.
“We have our own timetable, and we knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” he said. “It’s not a reason to panic right now.”
Next week remains a possibility, though.
Sports, Pages 20 on 10/28/2010