Miami's 'atrocious' debut

In Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West's debut as teammates, their Los Angeles Lakers lost to the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers by a 114-96 score.

In Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, and Scottie Pippen's debut with the Chicago Bulls, Pippen was forced to leave the game after 10 scoreless minutes with a back injury, but the Bulls still prevailed by a 105-91 score.

In Kevin Garnett(notes), Ray Allen(notes), and Paul Pierce's(notes) debut as teammates with the Boston Celtics, the eventual champs demolished the Washington Wizards, 103-83.

So how did LeBron James(notes), Dwyane Wade(notes), and Chris Bosh(notes) fare in their debut with the Miami Heat? Well, to hear Miami coach Erik Spoelstra tell it, the Heat were "atrocious" in a 88-80 defeat to the Boston Celtics.



He wouldn't be wrong in that description, at least to start the game. Miami scored just nine points in the first quarter, and 30 overall in the first half, fewer points than they scored in any quarter or half during all of 2009-10. And that team was filled with spare parts and expiring contracts.

Dwyane Wade (who played only three minutes during Miami's preseason due to a hamstring injury) managed to miss 12 of 16 shots, along with six turnovers and several missed defensive cues. Bosh wasn't much better, shooting 3-11. James managed 31 points, and helped spark a second half comeback that made this a one-possession game with under a minute to go, but he coughed the ball up eight times himself.

[Photos: See more of Miami's terrible threesome]

Boston wasn't much better, turning the ball over consistently and letting Miami back in the game during the fourth quarter, but the Heat had dug themselves too deep a hole, as the first game of the NBA season ended in defeat.

Stay tuned tomorrow at BDL for full coverage of Miami's first night out.

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