Keeping Pace

The Heat lost to the Pacers, the final score lit up on the scoreboard was 105-102. But why do I feel pretty good after this loss? Hmm...let's see...

The Heat shot 3-16 from 3 point range or 18%. The Heat are not going to be a great three point shooting team, but no team in the NBA is that abyssmal...

James Posey, the team's starting SF and probably best perimeter defender, was injured as was Shandon Anderson and Micheal Doleac...

17 turnovers...

Fought their way back from a 14 point deficit...

The Pacers shot 48% from the field. That is not likely to happen very often with this team's defense...

Jason Williams was 1-8 from the field and couldn't get off the bench at the end of the game which won't be happening again...

The Heat, together for little over a whole month, went up against a team that has been together for the better part of 3 seasons...who is also playing with a huge chip on their shoulder AND is one of the more talented teams in the East...

Shaq twisted his ankle and didn't return for the final 6 minutes of the game...

So, basically, not a whole lot went right for the Heat, who struggled early on in the game - even missing layups - as they were just incohesive overall. They had their biggest star in Shaq go down, played terribly at some points and still had a chance to go into OT with a rimmed-out Dwyane Wade three point shot.

If I was the Pacers, I would be very scared. Because the biggest difference between the Heat's win against the Grizzlies and their loss to the Pacers is execution. Against a tough team like Memphis, the Heat can rely on their natural talent to steal a game. But against a playoff-hardened contender like Indiana, you must execute. They didn't, and they lost. Barely.

But once the Heat develop into a team and learn how to play with one another - no more misplaced passes to Shaq in the post, no overdribbling from Walker and better shot selection and comfort on the floor - this team is going to be frighteningly good. We saw how the Glove and Shaq picked apart the Pacer's interior defense. Speaking of, Gary said it best, he said that right now this team is thinking too much and not just playing the game. We saw excellent ball movement and how quickly the Heat broke down full court presses and moved the ball down court with deft passing - so we know good things are coming. It will take about 10-15 games.

On a side note, we also had to put up with a terrible announcing team in Reggie "Homer" Miller (or was that Cheryl? Couldn't tell the difference), Steve "I love the Spurs" Kerr and Marv "I bite women, but love the Knicks" Albert.

So yeah, it was a frustrating home debut for the players and for the fans. But let's have a laugh, because in truth, this team is only going to get better. And the Pacers and Pistons should be scared.