Dwyane Wade Putting The Heat On His Back
The Miami Heat were streaking in the wrong direction before Dwyane Wade turned back the clock and put the team on his back the past week.
The Miami Heat have struggled at time this season because of a multitude of injuries. Injuries were the driving force behind their struggles in the past couple of weeks, as they were going deep into their bench to field a healthy team. Some players were even playing through injuries just to try and help out the team.
The results were rough, as the Heat went on a stretch in which they lost eight of 10 games. They were struggling to find any chemistry or continuity on the court, as they were using lineup combinations they never thought would have to use on the court.
The Heat have battled multiple injuries in the frontcourt all season, but the recent rash of injuries has come in the backcourt. Goran Dragic had to go home early from their first road trip, and his backup Beno Udrih found himself on the sidelines shortly after. Dwyane Wade battled a shoulder injury, missing two games but fighting through it.
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But, the Heat have finally begun getting healthier, and are starting to show the capabilities they have as a team. Udrih was the first to return this week on Monday, giving the Heat some stability at their point guard position and bolstering the bench with Tyler Johnson returning there.
Udrih doesn’t put up gaudy stats, averaging only 4.4 points and 2.7 assists per game, but his return and Wade toughing it out through his injury helped get the Heat on track.
Wade put together a vintage performance against the Chicago Bulls, as the Heat pulled out a much needed 89-84 victory. It helped get some momentum for the Heat, who then defeated the Brooklyn Nets the next night of their back-to-back set. Once again Wade was the driving force, scoring 27 points with eight assists, four rebounds, two blocks and three steals.
Wade kept the pedal to the metal on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks, as the Heat picked up their third straight victory, 107-103. It was a strong game for the Heat, as Wade led the way once again with 24 points, four rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and three steals.
Wade was able to do a little bit of everything for the Heat in the last week, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. They were reeling and needed their franchise cornerstone player to step up, and that is exactly what he did. Because of his heroics, the Heat are now riding a three-game winning streak, ending their second lengthy road trip of January in style with three straight victories.
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Now the Heat will return home for one game before another three-game road trip. Will Wade be able to continue carrying the team? The Heat would hope so, but he will not have to as they are finally getting healthy.
Dragic was able to make his return against the Bucks, as the Heat have seen that Wade can carry the team despite being 34 years old, but they will now be getting the players back to help Wade out so that he does not have to do it himself.