data-mm-id=”_k5mjhvmgl”>The Miami Heat were clicking. In the opening minutes of Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals, Jimmy Butler and his teammates were on fire. They raced to a 23-10 lead with 5:38 remaining in the opening quarter, forcing the Los Angeles Lakers into an early timeout. The buzz was palpable as it was clear Miami could hang with the big boys from LA. Then reality set in and the Lakers looked like a championship team. That early run was the high point of a profoundly disappointing night for the Heat. Los Angeles answered that early onslaught with a 21-8 run of its own and actually led at the end of the first quarter, then 65-48 at halftime. It was barely a contest after that. The Lakers took Miami's best punch and never seemed rattled. Instead, they walked right on through that haymaker like it was a love tap. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and their teammates stayed calm, made adjustments and began to pound the Heat into submission. At one point the lead ballooned to 87-55 with 6:04 left in the third. Yes, in the opening game of the NBA Finals we were already in garbage time by the third quarter. The Lakers did relax a bit and let Miami get back within 12 late in the fourth quarter but they were never challenged, securing a 116-98 win. The lesson from Game 1 was that the Heat simply can't compete with a Lakers team running on all cylinders. In every aspect of the game, LA was the demonstrably better team. A Miami squad that out-toughed its opponents on its way through the Eastern Conference playoffs felt completely overmatched by the length and brawn of the bigger Lakers. LA out-rebounded the Heat 54-36 and I'm shocked it was that close. It was a bad night for everyone on the Heat. Jimmy Butler, the center of Miami's franchise, was a dismal -14 and twisted his ankle. Orlando bubble star Tyler Herro was a mind-boggling -35 in 30 minutes. As if things couldn't get worse, the Heat seemed to lose their spirit when both Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo left with injuries. Their status for the rest of the series is unknown, but does it really matter?Meanwhile, like any great Hollywood production, the Lakers got contributions from supporting cast members. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helped spark their early comeback and finished with 13 points. Danny Green comported himself well on the defensive end, had 11 points and finished +21. Markieff Morris (eight points), Rajon Rondo (seven points, four assists) and Alex Caruso (10 points) helped the bench run circles around Miami's secondary unit until the game was out of reach. That bench production, paired with phenomenal nights from Davis and James killed any hope Miami had. It wouldn't be surprising if there's a Game 2 hangover for the Heat. They took a brutal beating and got banged up in the process.One of two concerns for the Lakers entering the series was how they would handle Adebayo and Miami's smaller lineups. The answer? They handled them just fine. In fact, LA played far better after going small late in the first quarter and through halftime. The other major worry was how the Lakers would handle Miami's shooting prowess and the blazing-hot Tyler Herro. It was simple,.James answered by forcing Herro to guard him on the offensive end. Then he repeatedly attacked him. If the Heat want to use the sweet-shooting but light-defending Herro, the Lakers will make them pay for it on defense. And James did, repeatedly calling the player Herro was guarding over to set a pick and forcing the rookie to switch onto him. It was hard to watch at times. No matter how scrappy the Heat are, the Lakers seemed to have an answer for everything. Miami's only hope in this series is to get incredibly hot from deep and hope the Lakers have off-nights offensively. That's really all they've got at this point. The Lakers are too deep, their chemistry is too good and they've peaked at exactly the right time. Simply put, Miami doesn't have the horses to run with a focused LA squad. In fact, from the beginning of the bubble, the only team capable of beating the Lakers was the Lakers. Unless that happens, this will be a short series.
Related Posts
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and his team-mates walked off the pitch during the first half of the Serie A match at Udinese on Saturday evening.
The 28-year-old France international left the action shortly after his team had taken the lead, apparently indicating to referee Fabio Maresca he had heard racist abuse from the crowd at the Stadio Friuli.
Maignan was followed by the other Milan players but they returned to the pitch soon after and play was able to resume around seven minutes after Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s goal had broken the deadlock.
There is absolutely no place in our game for racism: we are appalled.
We are with you, Mike.
— AC Milan (@acmilan)
Maignan was beaten three minutes later by a Lazar Samardzic shot and the teams…
Nottingham Forest are confident of signing Giovanni Reyna from Borussia Dortmund in the final days of the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Marseille are keen on the USA international, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger, but Premier League club Forest are confident that they will get a deal done for him.
The report has claimed that Forest, who are in danger of getting relegated from the Premier League to the Championship at the end of the season, have agreed a deal in principle to sign Reyna on loan for the rest of the season with an option to make it permanent in the summer of 2024. Marseille have matched that offer.
Reyna has made one start and nine substitute appearances in the Bundesliga for Dortmund this seas…
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez lauded his club s impending capture of right-back Glen Johnson from Portsmouth on Tuesday, even if he had to shell out a top-dollar fee of a reported 17 million pounds (25 million dollars).
Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more, said Benitez.
You can t compete in the top four of the Premier League unless you spend some money.
We were looking for a player of quality and also somebody who is British because of the new Champions League rules.
Glen Johnson fits both categories, Benitez insisted after landing the player who had also interested former club Chelsea.
Liverpool are formally due to complete the deal later this week.
Some of the fee will be written off with Portsmouth still owing money on…
The 2009-2010 French season gets underway this weekend with champions Bordeaux out to avoid any unseemly slip-up against newly promoted Lens.
Bordeaux ended Lyon s title monopoly on the final day of last season, and the team that pushed them closest, Marseille, are regarded in many quarters as favourites to take the honours this time around.
It s been a turbulent summer down on the south coast, with Didier Deschamps replacing Eric Gerets as manager and Marseille s owner, Robert Louis-Dreyfus, losing his battle with leukemia and chairman Pape Diouf leaving.
But bolstered by new chief executive Jean-Claude Dassier s hefty war chest Deschamps has wasted no time in strengthening his squad to mount a viable challenge on a title Marseille haven t won since 1992.
…
Is Mourinho a coward or a pragmatist? / Image via youtube.com
Anticipating crowd on the stadium and millions of people with their faces glued to TV screens were left rather disappointed with the uneventful and utterly underwhelming match between England’s biggest rivals, Liverpool and Manchester United.
It was a game of few chances at Anfield with the hosts largely subdued by United’s defensive approach.
Jose Mourinho resorted to his old, proven methods in order to achieve his goal of emerging unbeaten, causing a barrage of criticism for Manchester United’s apparent lack of willingness to play with desire, courage and bravery.
The Portuguese tactician was quick to defend his methods by putting the blame of Liverpool. His defensive approach is up fo…
Valencia have signed midfielder Daniel Wass from Celta Vigo on a four-year contract.
The Denmark international made 103 LaLiga appearances during a three-year spell at Celta, where he scored four goals in 2017-18 to help the club finish 13th in the table.
Wass started his career at Brondby before spending four seasons in Ligue 1 with Evian – the first of those campaigns being a loan switch from Benfica – before his move to Balaidos.
The right side of midfield was a problem position for Marcelino last season, he utilised 18-year-old forward Ferran Torres on the flank a number of times, but the arrival of 29-year-old Wass offers the head coach a more experienced option.
Club Statement I Daniel Wass
— Valencia CF English (@valenciacf_en) <…
A night to remember for the home supporters, one to forget for those who traveled from London. On Wednesday evening, at Anfield, Liverpool beat Chelsea by 4-1 to strengthen their hold on the top spot in the Premier League.
Diogo Jota broke the deadlock after forcing his way through the Chelsea defence in the 23rd minute, and Conor Bradley made a smart run to deliver a fine finish and score his first-ever goal for Liverpool in the 39th. The young right-back then delivered a superb cross which Dominik Szoboszlai headed into the net in the 65th, before Christopher Nkunku gave a tiny bit of hope to the visitors with an excellent goal of his own in the 71st. However, that hope soon failed as Luis Diaz set what eventually proved the final scoreline in the 79th.
The game
Live…
(GSM) Former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has finalised his settlement with the Hammers over his case for abrupt dismissal.
Curbishley resigned from the club at the beginning of the 2008-09 season after the board agreed to sell Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney against his wishes.
He won his case against his former employers last November. New West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold have now settled his compensation which is reportedly between £1.25 and £3.25 million.
It has taken many months to conclude this case but I am proud of my record at West Ham, said Curbishley, who also thanked the Hammers new owners for concluding his settlement quickly.
…
Swansea City manager Garry Monk says he will hold talks with Michu about his future at the end of the season.
The forward, currently on loan at Serie A side Napoli, made a huge impact after arriving in south Wales for a bargain £2million in 2012, scoring 18 goals in 35 Premier League matches in his debut season.
However, the Spain international s second campaign at the Liberty Stadium was dogged by ankle injuries and he was offloaded to Italy for 2014-15.
Further injuries hindered Michu s ability to settle in at Napoli, limiting him to just three league outings.
I ll assess it in the summer with him. I ll speak to him, said Monk. I ve kept an eye on how he s doing and, as a club, it s our duty to make sure we understand exactly what s going on with…
Brazil coach Dunga believes his captain Neymar is the best player in the world at the moment.
Neymar has played a starring role at Barcelona over recent weeks in the ongoing injury absence of Lionel Messi.
The 23-year-old has scored 10 goals in his last seven games for Barca, and crowned last Sunday s 3-0 win over Villarreal by completing a brace with a stunning individual strike.
Dunga hopes Neymar can recreate this form on his return from international suspension when Brazil take on bitter rivals Argentina in Thursday s World Cup qualifier
And, with Messi sidelined and the Argentine superstar s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo short of his best form at Real Madrid, the coach feels his main man is leading the way.
On the numbers and statisti…