Solid win for the Heat, if only because it came against a team that was coming off five straight wins and had a winning record.
But it was somewhat disconcerting to see that the combination of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Juwan Howard, Erick Dampier and Joel Anthony -- basically every big other than Chris Bosh -- went scoreless on a combined 0 of 5 from the field and eight rebounds in 57 total minutes.
That meant a lot more responsibility for Bosh, who responded with 27 points and 10 rebounds, but in the long run that's going to have to change.
The Heat rotation of big men has to have some kind of impact, and save for a couple possessions where Dampier made a significant play, they were rather non-existent. It also didn't help that Al Horford showed them up by shooting 10 of 11 from the floor, although most of those were jumpers.
I think Dampier (left) will have a long-term role on this team, and in the long run he might be the better option as the starter. He's physical, he can block a shot above the rim and he's just got a decent feel for the game. He made a nice pass to Bosh for a layup on one play that showed he's a lot more comfortable with the ball in his hands than, say Joel Anthony.
LeBron James didn't appear to have a post-Cleveland letdown, even though he went scoreless in the third quarter. Scoring 22 points on just 11 shots is an efficient game, and it's all that's required when Dwyane Wade and Bosh have it going -- and they had it going Saturday, combining for 53 points and 20 rebounds.
As much as Spoelstra's been getting killed, he continues to make smart moves. The latest one is the slow but steady inclusion of Mario Chalmers. He wasn't very effective last season, but that had a lot to do with the fact he was required to do more on a mediocre team. On this team, he can be solid. And he has been.
Against the Hawks, he had nine points, five rebounds, four assists and one turnover in 27 minutes and was plus-14, matching the plus-minus number of Bosh and Wade. He appears to have the full support of LeBron, which has to mean a lot to him. As much as Chalmers was considered a non-factor, he could end up being fairly important to this team in the long run.
(@chevyboy79, I actually watched the game from a bar in Connecticut with no sound, so no, didn't just steal Rick Fox's opinions. Heaven forbid two people watching the game can come up with similar thoughts.)
(@Ray, Reporters aren't fans. Even so, you clearly never read what I write, because I'm about the least negative Heat writer around. I get accused of being a homer more than I do of being overly critical.)
(Don't usually respond to comments, but I'm bored on a plane, sooo...)
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