The Heat frustrated the Celtics with their defense in Game 1, holding them to 40 percent shooting from the field. They didn't have the services of Chris Bosh - who is still nursing an abdominal injury, and the big man won't be able to suit up for Game 2 either.
LeBron Games led Miami's offense against the Celtics in Game 1, putting up 32 points and 13 rebounds. Dwyane Wade also did his part to make up for Bosh's absence, walking away with 22 points and 7 rebounds.
"For us, we're playing great team ball, especially in the fourth quarter," Wade said. "We're not playing as much hero ball that we played last year. We're getting off the ball. We're penetrating. We're trusting each other a lot more. It comes with time. In the fourth quarter we believe in each other, and that's been a success for us."
Shane Battier, Mike Miller, and Mario Chalmers all showed up in Game 1, but the other role players on Miami's roster didn't really step up their game.
"I think we all felt that we could have played better," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters about Miami's last outing. "We weren't as sharp as we had been, particularly in the three games before that. But that's the playoffs. You have to find a way to survive and win, even if you have to do it when you're not playing your best, like last night."
Given how badly the Heat struggled during the second half of the 2011/12 NBA season, they certainly deserve a lot of credit for what they've done in the postseason so far. They got past a hungry Indiana Pacers team without the services of Bosh, and they couldn't have asked for a better start against the Celtics.
David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 16 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
Sources:
Associated Press, "Celtics-Heat Preview"
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