Celtics over Heat
-What I couldn't wait for all off-season was to see the star power oozing from Miami's starting five. Despite three mega stars on the same team, on opening night, the Heat looked a lot like last year's Cavaliers—lots of LeBron James and everybody else watching. James canceled Dwyane Wade out a bit because they both thrive on isolation and pick and roll sets. So if one doesn't have the ball, he isn't nearly as impactful. Neither Wade nor James is a great spot up shooter, so it is not as if those two can really set each other up. Chris Bosh, while a skilled offensive player, doesn't play with his back to the basket, so just like Wade and Bosh, he needs space and the ball to be effective.
-Against deep teams with great defense like Boston, the Heat will look one-dimensional. The good thing for Miami though is that not too many teams can D up like the Celtics. This is only opening night; this Heat team will win plenty of games. They need time to gel and figure out how the three stars can play off each other. Boston's roster has largely been together for a long time, and has a lot of guys comfortable in their roles. When these teams play again in a month or two, it will be a much different game.
-Boston looked really good. Shaquille O'Neal was good crashing the boards, anchoring the paint on defense, and drawing fouls (though not at making many free throws). Rajon Rondo had seventeen assists, Ray Allen was hot from outside, and Paul Pierce defended well and made plays to get others involved. Glen Davis and Jermaine O'Neal looked like really good front court depth. Marquis Daniels made some nice plays as well. Kevin Garnett looked really live out there; he was moving great and was hedging on the pick and roll like he did in his prime.
-The Heat made a comeback in the third and fourth quarters, but that was largely because Boston was playing to protect a lead and the Heat were bombing away from outside. The Heat must learn how to play in a half court mode, because that's what wins in the playoffs.
-Also for Miami, Eddie House cannot be playing twenty-seven minutes per game. He is a streak shooter that should get no more than ten minutes when he is shooting well.
Blazers over Suns
-Steve Nash and Jason Richardson combined for forty-eight points in this game, but nobody else on Phoenix did much of anything. Nash only had six assists, which is not the formula for this team to win ball games.
-The Blazers dominated this game by winning the battle inside and utilizing a balanced scoring attack. The Blazers out-rebounded the Suns 48-30. Rebounding is something the Suns will struggle with all year, and they will hope to combat that deficit with the three point shot. The Blazers also had sixteen more assists than Phoenix, which is unusual for a Steve Nash team.
-LaMarcus Aldridge only scored eight points, and that is a good thing considering how much they won by. Aldridge will have to do more throughout the year, but it's a great sign that they have other guys who can step up and score. Once Greg Oden is back and healthy, this team could be really good.
Lakers over Rockets
-Laker fans, meet Steve Blake and Matt Barnes. Last year in a pinch, we went to Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic, who were always good for a turnover or a bonehead play. Now they have two veterans who can score and are born role players that have been coming off the bench and contributing their whole careers. Blake was lethal from outside and showed his great ball distribution skills. He also showed that he is leagues quicker than Derek Fisher, playing down the stretch because only he could stay in front of Aaron Brooks. Shannon Brown was the other hero in this game, coming off the bench to put in sixteen points. Blake and Brown have to take more minutes from Fisher, because they are simply better players. Blake, Brown, and Kobe Bryant is a lethal backcourt. Add it to Ron Artest, Barnes, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum and you've got the best team in the league.
-Bryant looked really good on that surgically-repaired knee scoring twenty-seven, and Gasol was huge going for twenty-nine points and eleven rebounds. Odom looked great as well.
-The only issue last night was the Laker defense, which will come with time.
-The Rockets played really well in this game, and the backcourt combo of Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin showed that it is one of the best in the league. Luis Scola was a monster with eighteen points and sixteen rebounds. Yao Ming was good in the time he played, especially considering all the time he's missed. I think he will give the Rockets about eleven points and eight rebounds if they stick to the twenty-four minute limit. The Rockets also showed their great depth.
-The Rockets will be a playoff contender, and if Yao stays healthy, will be one of the Lakers' top challengers.
--from Adam
-What I couldn't wait for all off-season was to see the star power oozing from Miami's starting five. Despite three mega stars on the same team, on opening night, the Heat looked a lot like last year's Cavaliers—lots of LeBron James and everybody else watching. James canceled Dwyane Wade out a bit because they both thrive on isolation and pick and roll sets. So if one doesn't have the ball, he isn't nearly as impactful. Neither Wade nor James is a great spot up shooter, so it is not as if those two can really set each other up. Chris Bosh, while a skilled offensive player, doesn't play with his back to the basket, so just like Wade and Bosh, he needs space and the ball to be effective.
-Against deep teams with great defense like Boston, the Heat will look one-dimensional. The good thing for Miami though is that not too many teams can D up like the Celtics. This is only opening night; this Heat team will win plenty of games. They need time to gel and figure out how the three stars can play off each other. Boston's roster has largely been together for a long time, and has a lot of guys comfortable in their roles. When these teams play again in a month or two, it will be a much different game.
-Boston looked really good. Shaquille O'Neal was good crashing the boards, anchoring the paint on defense, and drawing fouls (though not at making many free throws). Rajon Rondo had seventeen assists, Ray Allen was hot from outside, and Paul Pierce defended well and made plays to get others involved. Glen Davis and Jermaine O'Neal looked like really good front court depth. Marquis Daniels made some nice plays as well. Kevin Garnett looked really live out there; he was moving great and was hedging on the pick and roll like he did in his prime.
-The Heat made a comeback in the third and fourth quarters, but that was largely because Boston was playing to protect a lead and the Heat were bombing away from outside. The Heat must learn how to play in a half court mode, because that's what wins in the playoffs.
-Also for Miami, Eddie House cannot be playing twenty-seven minutes per game. He is a streak shooter that should get no more than ten minutes when he is shooting well.
Blazers over Suns
-Steve Nash and Jason Richardson combined for forty-eight points in this game, but nobody else on Phoenix did much of anything. Nash only had six assists, which is not the formula for this team to win ball games.
-The Blazers dominated this game by winning the battle inside and utilizing a balanced scoring attack. The Blazers out-rebounded the Suns 48-30. Rebounding is something the Suns will struggle with all year, and they will hope to combat that deficit with the three point shot. The Blazers also had sixteen more assists than Phoenix, which is unusual for a Steve Nash team.
-LaMarcus Aldridge only scored eight points, and that is a good thing considering how much they won by. Aldridge will have to do more throughout the year, but it's a great sign that they have other guys who can step up and score. Once Greg Oden is back and healthy, this team could be really good.
Lakers over Rockets
-Laker fans, meet Steve Blake and Matt Barnes. Last year in a pinch, we went to Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic, who were always good for a turnover or a bonehead play. Now they have two veterans who can score and are born role players that have been coming off the bench and contributing their whole careers. Blake was lethal from outside and showed his great ball distribution skills. He also showed that he is leagues quicker than Derek Fisher, playing down the stretch because only he could stay in front of Aaron Brooks. Shannon Brown was the other hero in this game, coming off the bench to put in sixteen points. Blake and Brown have to take more minutes from Fisher, because they are simply better players. Blake, Brown, and Kobe Bryant is a lethal backcourt. Add it to Ron Artest, Barnes, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum and you've got the best team in the league.
-Bryant looked really good on that surgically-repaired knee scoring twenty-seven, and Gasol was huge going for twenty-nine points and eleven rebounds. Odom looked great as well.
-The only issue last night was the Laker defense, which will come with time.
-The Rockets played really well in this game, and the backcourt combo of Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin showed that it is one of the best in the league. Luis Scola was a monster with eighteen points and sixteen rebounds. Yao Ming was good in the time he played, especially considering all the time he's missed. I think he will give the Rockets about eleven points and eight rebounds if they stick to the twenty-four minute limit. The Rockets also showed their great depth.
-The Rockets will be a playoff contender, and if Yao stays healthy, will be one of the Lakers' top challengers.
--from Adam
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