The Most Perfect Team

James felt as though he had been cursed to always lose season openers.

In 2010, the first regular-season game after the Heat's Big Three came together had also ended in defeat.

At the time, the league heavily hyped the showdown between the old and new Big Threes. Thus, the clash between the Heat and the Celtics became the main event of that season opener. In the end, the "Green Army" won by 8 points.

And now, four years later, James's first game after returning to Cleveland had likewise ended in a loss.

Only this time, James had lost even more badly than he had four years ago...

"The Cavaliers definitely never expected an outcome like this. They absolutely never imagined they'd experience what happened tonight."

Watching the Grizzlies send in their bench unit, Hubie Brown at the commentary desk could not help shaking his head.

Fans had paid nearly $800 for tickets, and ESPN had poured nearly all its resources into this game—not to watch garbage time.

People had expected an incredibly intense game, with both sides battling until the final second. If the Cavaliers could knock off the Grizzlies, that would have been even more perfect.

Yet none of what the fans had imagined came to pass. There was no fierce confrontation, no thrilling back-and-forth chase. The game did not even have the slightest bit of suspense. By halftime, the outcome already seemed decided.

At this point, only three minutes remained in the game. Yet the brand-new Cleveland Cavaliers still trailed the Grizzlies by 22 points.

The Cavaliers had become the focus of basketball fans around the world that summer. Acquiring James and Love in succession had turned this small-market team into one of the stars of the basketball world.

But today, they had played a game completely unworthy