Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade Still A Work In Progress

Starting his 12th season, you would think that you’ve seen everything possible out of Dwyane Wade, the future Basketball Hall-of-Famer and self-proclaimed “HeatLifer.”

But in a recent interview, Wade admits that he’s still adjusting as the team transitions into a new era in Miami. Here’s an excerpt from a piece by the Sun-Sentinel’s Ira Winderman:

"“I’m still finding my way with this team and this offense. So I’m still trying to see where I fit in. I know I can get a shot any time I want, but it’s about the quality of it more so than anything. I’m just playing the game and just seeing.”"

It’s hard to agree with Wade’s take on the situation considering his production doesn’t even reflect what happened last season, one in which he was widely lambasted for missing 28 games. Let’s take a look at his self-assessment and break it down, based on his production through five preseason games.

In “fitting in,” Wade’s implication is that his priority is to mesh with up to two or three new additions to the roster at a time. As he adds in the interview:

"“This early offense that we started in camp is more so to get our guys to better ball movement. So now Coach [Spoelstra] is starting to get to the point where it’s time now to put in a package for C.B. [Chris Bosh] and myself, and it will kind of be what we do for the next week, week and a half.”"

The numbers actually support this; Wade is averaging four assists in limited minutes, with a high game of seven against the Cleveland Cavaliers (likely trying to show former teammate LeBron James that he could still, even if somewhat ineffectively, do it all). And as he said, getting “a shot any time I want,” is just part of the equation.

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Again, that has been the case, albeit with a small, five-game sample size. His 49 shot attempts have break down this way; nine shots from 3-point range, 23 from mid-range and 17 in the painted area. Considering Wade has

already matched his

total

3-point attempts from last season, he’s clearly made a concerted effort to expand his range, something which

he has downplayed

in recent days.

But Wade’s assessment of being “about the quality” is highly doubtful.

His field goal percentage stands at just under 41 percent. While his additional shots from long range would appear to be a factor, he’s actually shooting a respectable 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. Wade has been settling for long midrange jumpers, contradicting his statement and continuing a trend from recent seasons.

If anything has been most alarming about Wade’s preseason performance, it could be the “just seeing” aspect. In a season where James’ departure creates a greater need for Wade to score, he’s been much more passive, as evidenced by his 17 total free throw attempts (especially zero attempts in a victory over Golden State).

Wade has averaged 8.3 FTA per game over his career, a number which has decreased significantly over the last few seasons. But even at a career low 4.8 attempts per game last season, his average of 3.4 free throws this preseason is disturbing. No longer attacking the rim, as his game extends further and further away, his trips to the free throw line will become less frequent and less reliable source of offense.

He acknowledges this decaying part of his game in his interview with Winderman:

"“I’m not 20 years old, where I’m going to throw my body in there all the time. So it has to be a different form of attacking. I can attack off the dribble; I’m not going to do that all the time. It has to be a midpost attacking and getting double-teams that way. It’s just mixing up and being smart about it. Right now, I’m facilitating, because if the point guard starts the offense then he’s normally throwing it to me first. Right now, I’m not coming down and just jacking. So I’m facilitating a lot, trying to find my guys, but, hopefully, as we get this going, I can figure it out more and see where my opportunities come.”"

There’s hope there, in the kind of awareness of his limitations that is often missing from superstar athletes; an understanding that things don’t work as well as they once did (an admission that, say, Kobe Bryant might do well to remember). Wade also recognizes that there will be chances for him to increase his scoring and continue to mix up his game effectively.

While his production early on isn’t a good sign, he’s played too well for too long to simply dismiss altogether. But if the Heat have any hope of advancing to the postseason and being a disruptive force in the playoffs, having Wade reach his full potential is crucial to the team’s success.

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