COMMENTARY | Do not try to convince any rational, intelligent, or sane person that the Miami Heat are better off without Dwyane Wade … but they just might be!
Recovering from a three-game losing streak that started against the Golden State Warriors back on Jan. 10, the Miami Heat are coming off of two strong wins, including beating the Los Angeles Lakers easily last night at home in American Airlines Arena.
LeBron James led the way last night with an amazing box score line that read as such: 31 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks. In fact, games this good have only happened 10 times in the last 25 seasons and only two players have ever achieved it twice. Michael Jordan and now James.
The Miami Heat were without Dwyane Wade for already the fifth game this season. Wade has missed two straight games with a right ankle sprain and missed three games earlier in the season with soreness in his left foot. Wade’s absence, however worrisome to most Heat fans, has actually been a good thing for the team, and James and Bosh specifically. Now, I would never argue that any team would be better off without a player of Wade’s skill or ability, but then again, numbers don’t lie.
With Wade, the Heat are 5-4, score 104.3 points per game and allow the opposing team to score 101.1 ppg. Without Wade, the Heat are 5-0, score 110.6 ppg and only give up 93.4 ppg to the opposing team. Huh? In Wade’s absence, the Miami Heat have won against quality teams, like the Spurs, Hawks, Pacers and aforementioned Lakers.
So how is this happening? Simple: James is the best player in the NBA and Bosh and the rest of the team are playing extremely well without Wade. When LeBron is in control of the ball, he is looking to pass first and score later. That style of play is especially effective when you have a team full of scorers like the Miami Heat have. Wade is the opposite and unfortunately for the Heat, when Wade plays, he is in control of the ball looking to score first.
On a team full of all-stars, you need to have an offensive facilitator like James to get the rest of the team mentally involved and active in their sets. When a player like Wade takes over, shooting first and passing only when absolutely necessary, the rest of his teammates seem to stand around watching more often than contributing. LeBron, however, is great at getting his fellow teammates involved while at the same time being the best scorer on the floor on any given night.
Last night on TNT’s coverage of the NBA, Charles Barkley stated the following: “I’ve watched him (James) play without Dwyane Wade and he’s a totally different player. I’m going to challenge him to play like that all the time. He’s the best player in the world but for some reason, when Dwyane is on the court, he takes a back seat.” Although it pains me to do so, I am going to have to agree with Barkley on this matter. LeBron, it’s time for you to become who you are supposed to be, make this team your team!
Based solely on the career numbers, James will likely go down as the greatest basketball player to ever live and Wade will be lucky to be in the top 25. The Miami Heat have been Wade’s team for one year to long and if they want to do more than just show up at the finals, maybe LeBron should take over the drivers seat this year.
Now, I am well aware that I am going to get blasted for this report and that there are significantly more LeBron “Haters” out there than any other player has (apologies to Kobe Bryant). But I live by the Kat Williams philosophy: the more haters you have, the better off you are!
Fact Check
http://espn.go.com/nba/
http://espn.go.com/nba/schedule
http://espn.go.com/nba/standings
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mia/miami-heat