Dwyane Wade Keeping The Miami Heat Alive In Playoff Race
By Sam Richmond
Perhaps no player has been written off more in recent years than Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade. It seems like we hear the same criticisms of Wade before every season. He’s too old! He’s not the athlete he once was! He can’t stay healthy!
Despite all those cries, here we are in March: the 33-year-old from Chicago, Illinois is dominating the NBA and saving the Heat’s season.
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In eight games this month, Wade is averaging an absurd 26.9 points (51.9 percent shooting from the field), 5.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. The Heat are 6-2 in those games and it’s those wins that have moved Miami from the outside looking in at the playoff picture to sole possession of seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Wade was particularly spectacular in Miami’s last two games (on Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers and on Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Cavs have been an absolute juggernaut since LeBron James returned from injury in January, yet they were no match for the Heat, thanks to Wade. The three-time NBA champion poured in 32 points (21 in the first half) in a 14-point blowout of the Cavs.
Two nights later, Wade scored 32–15 in the fourth quarter, including a game-winner with 13 seconds left, to help Miami topple a 44-22 Trail Blazers team.
The Heat called on Wade to carry them late and he did, just as a superstar should.
Spoelstra: "The best offense in the fourth quarter was to get the ball to Dwyane & let him create."
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) March 19, 2015
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If there was any question about how much Wade has left in the tank, he’s put it to rest with his recent play and, frankly, his play this entire season.
He’s still one of the very best at his position and one of the craftiest players in the league. He can beat opponents in so many ways — post-ups, pick-and-rolls, off-ball cuts, etc. He’s averaging 21.6 points (48.1 percent shooting from the field), 5.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game this season.
The Heat might not be having the type of season it wanted to have, but that’s not to the fault of Wade. He’s been everything they could have asked for and more. At this point, Miami is looking like a strong bet for the postseason, which is pretty incredible considering how many injuries this team has dealt with and its overall lack of depth.
But the Heat have Wade, and lately, that’s all that’s mattered.
It’s hard to suggest the Heat are capable of a deep postseason run, not with Chris Bosh out for the rest of the season and the Heat likely facing the Cavaliers or the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.
But make no mistake: the Hawks and Cavs would much rather play teams like the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers or Charlotte Hornets than this Heat team with Wade rolling like he is.
Dwyane Wade: "This is the best I have felt for a couple of years."
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) March 19, 2015
But this shouldn’t be a surprise. Whenever the talk of Wade’s demise has heated up, he’s found a way to extinguish it with his play. This year is no different and it’s why the Heat are likely to be playing postseason basketball next month.
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