Some things don't change. Lebron James threw the baby powder to start the game before taking the court with Chris Bosh for the Miami Heat's preseason matchup against the struggling Atlanta Hawks. About the only thing that's changed in the arena is the allegiance of all those new Miami transplants. It's kind off funny, they were all from Cleveland. How the heck did that happen?
Bosh scored the first points of the game as the Hawks had a bit of brickitis. Joe Johnson scored the first Hawks points before Josh Smith did what he does best -- swatted down a Bosh offering in the paint. He even managed to score on the other side of the court.
Of course, James set things straight by blowing past a pair of defenders and posting up a shot to the oohs and ahhhs of those Cavalier Heat supporters at Philips Arena. He added a trey to tie it at 10-10 with just over 7:30 left in the first. Johnson put the Hawks ahead with a sweet layup and a dunk two minutes later.
Miami was without G Dwyane Wade who's a little banged up and away battling for custody of his kids. G/F Mike Miller's also going to be out for a while with a significant thumb injury. James claims that it's going to take until January for the Heat to fully gel. Whatever.