? Expensively assembled side go down 88-80 to Boston Celtics
? Coach Erik Spoelstra: 'There's no reason to panic right now'
LeBron James has asked for patience after the Boston Celtics spoiled the opening act of his latest NBA title challenge by beating the Miami Heat 88-80 in their much-anticipated season opener last night.
"It's a feel-out process," said James, who scored 31 points but had eight turnovers in the game, played in front of a sold-out raucous crowd. "When you have so many options it's something I'm not accustomed to, having that many threats out on the court at the same time."
The two-times league MVP, who played seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and his fellow free agent Chris Bosh signed for Miami in the off-season, joining the perennial All-Star Dwyane Wade in southern Florida. With so much talent, they will be loved at home, vilified on the road, and on television as much as possible.
"We've played in hostile environments before, so that's respect," said Wade, who misfired on 12 of 16 shots against the Celtics and had six turnovers. The seven-year NBA veteran said the Heat have to "get used to playing with each other and get used to the attention this team is going to have on them".
Bosh was just as ineffective as Wade, making only three of 11 shots while creating little of the inside presence the Heat are going to need if they are to challenge for the title.
"We know what's going on," Bosh said. "We know that a lot of people are watching. We know a lot of people are really putting us under the microscope. We know that. It's evident. You turn on the TV, you see what's going on, you see what people are talking about. That's a part of the game. That's what it is.
"We knew it was going to be like that. Dealing with it is another thing. But at the end of the day, it's going to be here, it's not going anywhere. We just have to settle down."
The Heat coach, Erik Spoelstra, said over-eagerness by his players had counted against them. "There's no reason to panic right now," he said. "We knew this would be a little bit of a process, and this is the first step."
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