Daily NBA Fix: Dwyane Wade, Miami In Perfect Position

Knowing your limits can be just as valuable as anything else, and an older Dwyane Wade is picking his spots wisely for the Miami Heat this season.

Dwyane Wade prided himself getting back up after being knocked down, if a commercial from earlier in his career is to be believed. But as the years went on, it got a little harder to get back up each time. The physical playing style that he used early in his career took a toll on his body and in the past few seasons it was evident as his minutes began to decline by choice or by injury.

But the 33-year-old Wade seemed to have an epiphany of sorts: Why even get knocked down in the first place?

Knowing his body may not be up for the grind it was used to, he’s learned to go and when to cut back. He knows when to let the younger players on the team, or at least the other four players on the court with him, carry the load.

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For better or worse, this is something Kobe Bryant didn’t do quick enough. In an effort to prove everyone wrong, he only exposed the toll time had taken on his body. Force of will can be powerful, but time always wins.

By picking his spots wisely, Wade put himself in perfect position to lead the Heat over the Oklahoma City Thunder last night in a 97-95 victory.

Wade tied the game late with a floater then gave Miami the lead with a pair of free throws on a night where he led his team with 28 points.

Wade said in an interview afterwards that the game had a playoff feel to it. It certainly looked like Wade was in a playoff mode, especially in the final minutes. Speaking of minutes, he was on the court for 33 minutes — the second most of the season and above his season average of 29.8.

It may only be a few more minutes than normal, but by picking the games where the Heat need his minutes the most, he helped Miami make a small statement early in the year.

The Heat now sit at 11-6 and are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. If the Heat continue to use Wade when Miami needs him most, he’ll have plenty left in the tank when the playoffs come.

Check Yourself Before You Tech Yourself

Rajon Rondo tested the limits of Bill Kennedy by staring him down on Thursday night after a call the Sacramento King point guard didn’t agree with. In this case, Kennedy won the battle as he sent Rondo packing for the locker room with a technical foul.

You can debate whether it was worth of a technical, but the result is all the same.

A reputation goes a long way, and Rondo’s surly nature probably didn’t help in this situation either. Plus, Rondo should know good and well that continuing to disrespect an official, much less after receiving your first technical, is just asking for that second technical. He did himself no favors after that by continuing to let Kennedy know his thoughts on the matter.

The game was already getting out of hand, but the Kings could have used Rondo to help close the gap as Sacramento fell 114-97 to the Boston Celtics.

A player’s reputation is one of those things that goes beyond the box score. It is hard to quantify, but we all know different players get different treatments. The league’s best players certainly get more rope with the referees, but it isn’t exactly a sure thing that they won’t be getting a technical themselves.

You can complain that LeBron James and Chris Paul can get away with hounding the referees, but even they know how to pick their spots. If you’re Rondo though, it isn’t surprising to incur the officials’ wrath when you try to show them up on the court.

Popovich Gonna Popovich

You can hate Gregg Popovich’s shtick, but he has been a friend to Craig Sager and his family, so there was something heartwarming about him giving Sager crap for his questions during their regular sideline interview.

Next: NBA Power Rankings: Week 6

Popovich had plenty to smile about too as the San Antonio Spurs hammered the Memphis Grizzlies 103-83.