Heat Vs. Celtics: Boston Leads 45-30 At Halftime As Miami Thrice Era Starts Off With A Thud

The Miami Heat are stocked with three of the best players in the NBA in LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Before their game against the Boston Celtics, TNT commentator Kenny Smith predicted they would win 70 games this year. But after one half of basketball in Boston, the Heat look like a college team. The Celtics leads 45-30, dominating the game from start to finish.

The Heat are, quite simply, playing like a team that’s never played together before. Their offense lacks any flow, and they seem to be rushing shots instead of attacking the basket. The Celtics’ swarming defense can do that to you, but a team this talented should be doing better. Instead of playing off each other, Wade, James and Bosh seem to be taking turns. Clearly, they need more time working together.

Wade in particular looks rusty. He’s hit just two of his ten shots, and already has five turnovers. Wade sat out the entire preseason with a hamstring injury, and while he seems healthy, he definitely looks out of rhythm. Miami needed everyone healthy in the preseason to experience playing together for the first time. Wade’s injury made that impossible, and tonight, they are paying the price.

Not that James or Bosh have been much better. Bosh is just one for eight for four points, and James already has four turnovers on his own. All these players need to learn how to play together, and starting with the league’s best defense isn’t ideal.

Ray Allen leads the Celtics with 11 points. Rajon Rondo has just two points, but he has already dished out eight assists. The Celtics are holding the Heat to 27-percent shooting, and if it weren’t for 12 turnovers, they’d be up even more. Miami will surely pick it up at some point this season. The question is, when?

(Image via @jose3030).