Heat Thrill Home Crowd In Home Opener

I did not really know what to feel going into Friday nights opener. I was in the downtown area that afternoon and you could feel the buzz in the air. The television crews, the signs supporting LeBron, it was finally here and in typical Miami fashion, they save the best for the weekends. Think it was a coincidence that they wanted that the Friday night spot and chose to play two games on the road?

The opening act was a little too Miami though. The music of Phil Collins did not really get me excited about the game of basketball, the video on the titan tron was equally trendy. In comparison to the opening that the Boston Celtics have, it was sub par at best. But too often too much, the conversation about the game of basketball often sways away from the court so onto the actual game and how the team did on the floor as Dwayne Wade showed what he really brings to the table.

It has been awhile since Wade has had a chance to perform on a stage like last night as the Heats Championship run was years ago followed by sub par performances by the Heat along with an injury. By attacking the basket and drawing fouls, Wade showed the potential that him and LeBron James will bring to the table each and every night. Outside of the two, the team flowed very smoothly as well. Just when you think that LeBron was touching the ball too much, he would work the ball around too Wade. And vice versa. I think Mark Jackson said it best when the dynamic duo hit their first alley oop of the night that really set the crowd off. "Batman to Robin, rewind, Robin to Batman, it dont matter who is who, its just two of the worlds best doing what they do."

And then they started hitting three pointers. Once when they started landing treys, it was over for the Orlando Magic whose normal three point threat, Rashad Lewis, could not connect on any of his shots, (0-8 in the first half.) Carlos Arroyo also showed that he can be an asset to the team as well as Big Z and James Jones as a three point threat. But the story of the game was that Wade and LeBron once again exceeded an expectation set forth on them. Both sent the crowd of who some paid $12,000 dollars for a ticket certainly got their moneys worth. But it was just one game, but a game that will live throughout the season as Head Coach Eric Spoelstra said. "They've shown me what we're capable of defensively and I will hold them to this standard now in terms of the effort. The effort was great." This effort lead to Orlando's lowest point total since December 2, 2005.

LeBron will be visiting friend Jay-Z this Sunday as the Heat face the new look New Jersey Nets under Head Coach Avery Johnson who is someone that I never understood why he did not have a head coaching position in the NBA. He went unemployed for far too long. But if Lebron and Wade play in the same manner, which Spoelstra as stated he will hold them too, it should be yet another outstanding display of basketball.