Report from Camp: 'LeBron looks serious'

 With the Heat opening up camp today, the characteristics of Heat are obvious; they are serious about winning a championship. With the chosen location of Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, The Miami Heat certainly set a tone with the players and the NBA. This location gives the players a sense of security so they can practice without having a blogger like me trying to get into the area. Apparently the security is so tight that not even the wives of the players could enter. This trip is about one thing: basketball. Check that. Defensive Basketball. And Pat Riley would not want it any other way.


For the first two hours of practice, the players only worked on the defensive side of the ball. The message is clear to the team that they are not going to win a championship on the offensive side of the ball; although the offense won’t hurt. In the game of basketball, defense turns into offense real quick. Defense also takes great communication which is something the military prides itself off of as they understand the importance of having everybody communicating during an operation. This could be another reason why Pat Riley, who makes it a point to honor the military before each home game, chose the location.

Today possessed a similar feeling of an approaching storm getting closer. The clouds have already turned dark over the NBA and the news that the Miami Heat are focusing on defense certainly sent a rumble of thunder through the league.