A simple online scheduling screw-up from the Miami Heat's content team had many NBA fans--especially in Florida--convinced that LeBron James was joining Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley's squad in South Beach.
Heat fans thought James was going to be introduced as a member of the team for the second time in his legendary NBA career on July 21. Instead, James committed to join the 76ers three days later. It was a stunner that led to denial.
It's been hard to miss the comments from the fans on social media, who believe that something other than on-court concerns convinced LeBron to go to the 76ers. Many wonder how LeBron could look at the situation that doesn't include stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins and think that he's better off. Logic says spacing is a concern. While one game of evidence isn't nearly enough to declare an assumption to be correct, the Heat surely looked like a team that struggled with its spacing and three-point shooting against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
LeBron must be feeling good
It was a good start to the week for LeBron and the new-look 76ers. Philly went into Madison Square Garden and spoiled the New York Knicks' banner night with a 106-100 win.
James checked in for 34 minutes. He shot 5-for-13 from the field to score 14 points. The star forward teased a triple-double by coming down with nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists. He came up with one steal and blocked one shot.
The Sixers didn't shoot well from three themselves. Taking 40 three-pointers, Philadelphia made 28% of those shots. LeBron contributed to the poor number by going 0-for-3 from deep himself. What they lacked in three-point scoring was made up for elsewhere on the floor and on the defensive end. The 76ers kept New York's stars in check, holding Jalen Brunson to just 21 points in 34 minutes. He was the only Knick to grab 20 points.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat watched Giannis go to work (35 points off 19 field goal attempts and 14 free throws in 30 minutes) while the rest of the team had a quiet outing. The 76ers shot poorly from three in their outing from beyond the arc. Miami was somehow worse. They made just 24% of their 33 attempts from deep.
Then on the other end, the Heat couldn't hold up defensively. A ticked-off Anthony Edwards dropped 45 points in 33 minutes. The LaMelo Ball debut included 21 points, while Ayo Dosunmu produced 16 points off the bench. The Timberwolves dominated the Heat with a 131-106 win in Miami.
A lot can change as teams get settled in, but two games this week were already perfect examples of why LeBron chose one team and not the other.
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