My career started in the state of Florida with unbelievable teammates | Forum

BOSTON -- Dwyane Wade and the new-look Chicago Bulls put their perfect start on the line when they visit the Boston Celtics in an early season rematch Wednesday night. Sam Cunningham Jersey .Last week in Chicago, the Bulls (3-0) scored a 105-99 victory over the Celtics (2-1) as Jimmy Butler scored 24 points and Wade, playing his first game after signing with his hometown team during the offseason, added 22. Taj Gibson posted 18 points and 10 rebounds.The Bulls, who have seven new players on the roster, defeated the Indiana Pacers at home Saturday and easily downed the Nets in Brooklyn on Monday night.We only played a little bit together in the preseason, so were still learning each other right now, Wade said Monday. Were only three games in but we see it looking good.At times, were just out there and were feeling very comfortable and everybody, defensively, on the floor trusts each other. And thats rare early in the season for a team that hasnt played together, but were vocal. Everyone is vocal, everyone is talking to each other and communicating, so that goes a long way.The loss in Chicago was the only one for Boston in three games as it hung on to defeat the Nets in its home opener and won at Charlotte on Saturday night. The Celtics played the first two games without the injured Marcus Smart (ankle) and Kelly Olynyk (shoulder). Smart is returning for this game.The Celtics were beaten on the boards and on the perimeter in Chicago, and Smart -- a key asset in both -- will help.Marcus is a good rebounder, generally, and hes good at blocking out, Boston coach Brad Stevens said. We were a little bit better (rebounding) against Charlotte, but we still have a long way to do. Weve got to get better and well be tested in that regard again on Wednesday.While Smart returns, Avery Bradley, who scored a career-high 31 (career-best eight 3-pointers and 11 rebounds) at Charlotte, was doubtful because of right shoulder soreness hes been battling since training camp. He is second on the team with 21.3 points per game and first in rebounding at 8.7.Hes been getting extra treatment on it and everything else, Stevens said Tuesday. For whatever reason, it was a little bit more sore today.One new Bull the Celtics will have to deal with Wednesday is former Celtic Rajon Rondo, who is on his fourth team in the last three seasons. The point guard is averaging 6.7 points, 8.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 turnovers this season.Its a trickle-down effect. Its contagious, Rondo says. It starts with the point guard. Im passing the ball, Michael (Carter-Williams) is doing the same. D-Wade is an unselfish player. Jimmy wants to make plays for the next guy.Rondo was 1-for-9 from the floor against Boston last week, but contributed nine assists, six rebounds and two steals. He is averaging 13.0 points, 9.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in four games versus the Celtics.The Celtics will be without center Al Horford, who was placed in the NBAs concussion protocol following a hit to the head during Mondays practice.Horford is suffering from concussion symptoms after being hit in the head Monday during practice, the Celtics announced Wednesday. Sony Michel Jersey . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. Tedy Bruschi Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. https:///...jersey-patriots.html ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter.MIAMI -- Mike Miller was a luxury that the Miami Heat decided they could no longer afford. Miller was designated Tuesday as the teams amnesty player, a move that may save the Heat more than $30 million in luxury tax payments over the next two years and comes only a few days after team president Pat Riley said the two-time defending NBA champions were hoping to keep the core of the roster largely intact for next season. But with the teams tax bill set to be bigger than ever -- depending on what the final payroll numbers are, the Heat could pay as much as $2.50 per $1 they are over the salary-cap threshold for this coming season under the leagues new and more punitive rules -- the team ultimately made the call to part with Miller, a move that he suspected was coming. "I understand the business side of basketball," Miller told The Associated Press. "Its a combination of being very, very thankful for the opportunity that Ive had, but it hurts that we had a chance to do something very, very special and Id love to have been a part of it." Riley said the team tried to trade Miller, then had to make "a very difficult decision" to use the one-time amnesty provision on him. He said the teams managing general partner Micky Arison, CEO Nick Arison and coach Erik Spoelstra all struggled with the decision. "Mike had an incredible impact on the Miami Heat; helping us to three finals appearances and winning back-to-back World Championships," Riley wrote in a statement released by the team. "This was a very difficult decision for me personally, the Arison family, Erik and the entire Miami Heat organization. Mike was one of the best we have ever had here, and will be sorely missed. We wish Mike, his wife Jennifer and their family nothing but the best." Miller would have made $6.2 million this season, and $6.6 million next season. He still gets that money, but his salary will not count against Miamis cap, nor will it count against a luxury-tax hit that was in line to exceed $30 million this coming season alone. "I love Mike. We all love Mike," Heat guard Dwyane Wade told AP as the news of the teams decision broke. "Its tough to lose one of our brothers. But I think we all understaand its not personal. Willie McGinest Jersey. Its a business decision." If Miller is not claimed off waivers, he becomes a free agent later this week. Its believed he would like to play for a title contender, and a return to Memphis -- where he spent parts of six seasons -- would likely appeal to Miller. "I know I can be very, very productive for a couple years for sure," Miller said. "But at the same time, it would be very difficult to go into a situation where youre not competing for a title. So Im going to have to weigh those things, and well see how it plays out." Miller spent three seasons in Miami, helping the Heat win two titles and playing big roles in each playoff run. He started the last four games of this years NBA Finals, the highlight of that run possibly being how he lost a shoe during play early in the fourth quarter of Game 6 against San Antonio, flipped it over to the bench, came downcourt and swished a 3-pointer anyway to help the Heat rally from 10 points down in the final 12 minutes. He also came off the bench to make seven 3-pointers in the title-clinching Game 5 win over Oklahoma City in 2012. "Ive had a pretty good career and Ive been a part of a lot of special things," said Miller, the NBAs rookie of the year in 2000-01 and sixth man of the year in 2005-06. "Ive won some individual awards and now two rings, so Im going to have some pretty good memories." Miller plans to keep playing for at least a couple more years, saying that he feels better now than he has in several seasons. He expressed disappointment that not only will he not get to help the Heat try for a third straight title, he will no longer be playing alongside Udonis Haslem, his former college teammate at Florida. Reuniting with Haslem was one of the many reasons why Miller signed with Miami. "I said this when I first got back here: My career started in the state of Florida with unbelievable teammates, one of them being Udonis," Miller said. "And then ending back up in Florida with UD, that was a special thing. We had a chance to win a national championship, came up short, then at the end got back as teammates in the NBA and won two championships together. Thats special." ' ' '