The Miami Heat started off the 2012 preseason with a loss, going down 92-79 against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 7.
Ray Allen stepped on the court for the first time as a member of the Heat's roster, and the 37 year-old looked like he still has a lot of basketball left in him. Allen -- who played for 27 minutes -- converted on 62 percent of his field goal attempts, walking away with 10 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals against the Hawks.
"I've love shooting it, but I also love the mid-range game, I love posting up, I love passing the ball," Allen told reporters after the game. "I'm not going to force it."
However, Chris Bosh -- who went 8-14 from the field -- was the Heat's most impressive player on Sunday, finishing with 22 points and 6 rebounds in 23 minutes.
"Just to be back out there with the guys, it's a good feeling," Bosh said. "I'm doing a better job of learning how to play and be efficient within the offense. I know where my spots are going to be."
LeBron James took it easy against the Hawks, but he still made the most of his limited minutes, putting up 10 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds.
Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, and a handful of Miami's players didn't suit up against the Hawks.
Overall, both teams had sloppy performances, but then again, that is the norm for preseason openers.
It's definitely a little too early to start making judgments, but I liked what I saw from Allen. He looked reinvigorated on Sunday, and Miami's road to a second consecutive NBA title will be a lot easier if he delivers similar performances on a consistent basis.
The Heat will now head off to Beijing, China, where they'll face the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 11.
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:
Ira Winderman, "Bosh sharp, but Heat off in exhibition loss to Hawks"
Player and game information from ESPN.com
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