The Final Score: Frigid start for Miami Heat

We marvel at their names. Wade. James. Bosh. Yet against the Orlando Magic, we shake our heads with their play. The Miami Heat are supposed to amaze the public. Sorry but when the Big 3 made a big splash about joining forces and owning the universe, it wasn't exactly a license to go under the radar. You don't stage "The Decision", then, plead for patience afterwards. And even if they said they would take it slow, they certainly didn't convince us that they would. So after 15 games, Miami is nowhere near elite status and miles away from the off-season prospect of domination. Their performance doesn't warrant persecution. It's not like they're zero and 15. Although, if the Clippers start with two wins and 13 losses few will file charges for ineptitude. However, an 8-7 start for the Heat isn't what most people had in mind. Looking at players' facial expressions in a loss to the Orlando Magic, I'm guessing the Heat expected something else too. Is it too early to give Wade, LeBron and Bosh bespoke Louis Vuitton x Eddie Bauer fishing rods? Yes. Is it too early to give them the 8th seed in the East? Of course. Is it too early for Pat Riley to take over? Only Pat Riley knows the answer to that. My guess is former Heat Head Coach Stan Van Gundy also has a clue. I neither relish in the Heat's struggles nor do I look forward to Erik Spoelstra losing his job. But when Magic point guard Jameer Nelson frolics past the Heat's perimeter defense and scores like he's driving thru Starbucks at the Fort, there is something terribly wrong. If the absences of Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem are preventing Wade, James and Bosh from performing better, I'll try my very best to accept the argument. Is competition that stiff? Three All-World players need two more superb NBA veterans to avoid an 8-7 start? Of course, one pep talk, a player's cathartic turnaround and an incredible hot-streak can make all of us believers finally. And because it's only November, we will wait. We want to see Coach Spo do a Doc Rivers - win with a Big 3. Even if you don't like the Heat, you probably don't want the Wade, James and Bosh trio to end up like Washington's Arenas, Butler and Jamison triumvirate. Or maybe you do (especially if you're from Cleveland). In the meantime, other NBA teams go about their business. People are scoring 40 points, grabbing 30 rebounds, dishing out 20 assists. Holy kamote, the Spurs are 12-1 (12-game winning streak!). Oo nga, winning every game, every night with Popovich, Duncan, Ginobili and Parker is boring. And as for the Lakers (13-2, 5-game win streak), they're not even sure what kind of Miami team (dominant or distraught) shows up on Christmas day. Am I laughing at Miami's conundrum? Nope. But it would be a shame not to see the Heat finally do what they're supposed to do. – GMANews.TV