The Heat are going to be pretty tough to beat. That’s it.
Ok, that may not have been the only thing we learned from the NBA’s opening night, but it was certainly the most convincing. The defending Champs picked up right where they left off, steadily handling the East’s second best squad in the Boston Celtics.
Miami’s new additions, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, took little time in making their presence felt in South Beach, finishing with 19 and 10 respectively. Allen fits perfectly with the Heat and will benefit from LeBron and D Wade’s ability to penetrate all season. If Lewis can play 1/6th as well as he did during his heyday in Seattle, which he did last night, then he will be another great asset for Miami, making them even more difficult to beat than they were last season.
LeBron appears poised for another monster season, so no one should be surprised to see him hoist a 4th MVP trophy next Spring. Barring any injuries, it is difficult to imagine anyone, especially from the Eastern Conference, cooling down the Heat.
The other Finals favorite, however did not fair so well. Lakers fans might want to postpone any parade talk until they get some issues resolved, including Dwight’s atrocious foul shooting and Mike Brown’s desire to seemingly handcuff Steve Nash. The retooled Kobe and Co. looked out of sync and overmatched last evening, a major concern for those who assumed that the addition of Nash and Dwight would pay immediate dividends.
Don’t get me wrong, the Lakers still may very well be the best in the West, but it is clear that they are a work in progress. Depth will be a major concern for the Lakeshow as well, as the squad’s second team is shaky at best. A major injury to a starter could have a disastrous result on the season.
The NBA’s opening night was eventful, and set the tone for what is sure to be an interesting, and extremely exciting season.
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