LeBron makes winning debut as Heat dump Pistons

MIAMI, (Reuters) – After all the hype, LeBron James  and the new-look Miami Heat finally got on a basketball court,  starting their pre-season schedule with a comfortable win yesterday and no shortage of fanfare.

Miami’s 105-89 victory over the Detroit Pistons was soured  somewhat as All-Star Dwyane Wade left the game early with what  appears to be a minor hamstring injury.
But James and Chris Bosh, the other two members of Miami’s  “Big Three”, showed glimpses of the talent Miami assembled in  the off-season to transform into NBA title contenders.

When James went through his pre-game ritual of throwing a  handful of powder overhead to create a dusty white cloud, the  roar from the anxious home crowd confirmed this was no ordinary  warm-up game.

James clearly felt the same as he played with noticeably  more intensity than is expected from what are usually low-key,  meaningless encounters.

“There definitely was (more intensity), I think everybody  has been waiting to see us, to see what we have been doing in  practice and then bringing it to a game setting,” said James,  who scored 18 points.

“I was anxious to get on the court. It is something I have  been waiting for all summer, it was great, the reception from  the fans was awesome.”

Twelve of James’s points came in the first quarter, with  the final two coming from a powerful dunk after a fierce spin  which he celebrated with a huge wave of his arms.

The off-season was dominated by James’s free agency, his  deliberations, his decision and the fallout from the manner in  which he handled his departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James never looked comfortable in the media glare, from his  much criticized and televised announcement that he was “taking  my talents to South Beach”, to recent comments that race may  have been a factor in the backlash against him, and the forward  has won few friends with his off-season words and actions. But he is clearly adored in South Florida where fans are  hoping the NBA’s two-time reigning most valuable player can  lead the team to their first NBA title since 2006.

“You can tell it’s an exciting time for this city,” James  told reporters before the game, and certainly the buzz outside  the venue was anything but typical for a pre-season game  anywhere, let alone South Florida.

Predictably the car parking prices were up, double in some  cases, and it was clear from the crowds waiting for the venue  to open that Heat merchandise has been selling well.

It was somewhat surprising that the arena was mostly empty  when, 12 minutes before the tip-off, the leading trio of James  and fellow All-Stars Wade and Bosh ran on to the court with  their team mates.

But Miami folk do not count punctuality among their main  qualities and the venue soon filled with a crowd that surpassed  the number achieved for many regular season Heat games in  recent years.