A Little Short, but His Growth Was Plain to See!

"Jump ball!"

The jump ball between Chandler and Gortat.

"Smack!"

Gortat tipped the ball first, using a hard-fought jump ball to tell the league he was one of the Heat's "Four giants."

LeBron took the ball and pushed forward, reaching the right side of the arc. He faced Su Yan's defense and immediately called for a screen, going around Su Yan to attack.

He charged decisively.

He turned into a bulldozer, barreling violently toward the basket.

Tony Allen was guarding him, and he was no slouch physically.

But the King was even tougher.

The King used the approach he knew best, overpowering Tony Allen and attacking the basket. He laid it in.

The Heat drew first blood.

Transition offense.

Su Yan brought the ball up and drew LeBron and Wade over to trap him at the right side of the arc. He called for George to set a screen.

But...

Both men fought through the screen and caught up, while Chalmers stopped Curry's roll to the basket.

Su Yan didn't rush to attack. He passed laterally to George at the left side of the arc, where he was open.

"Thump!"

Bosh stepped up.

George versus Bosh.

The two faced off for the first time in the new season.

After winning a championship, second-year George had become much more confident.

He had grown over the course of a season, and his skills had improved by leaps and bounds.

He was rapidly becoming "General George."

In a one-on-one matchup at the left side of the arc against Bosh, a power forward ranked among the league's top ten, George wasn't particularly nervous.

He slowly changed direction in front of his body, finding his rhythm.

His whole body swayed in a steady cadence as he kept looking for the right chance to drive.

The