Interesting analysis
Reasons Why Dwyane Wade Needs to Stay on the Bench for Nowhttp://bleacherreport.com/articles/1024 ... ch-for-nowThe Miami Heat are 6-3 with Dwyane Wade in the starting lineup, and they are 3-0 with him on the bench. No, I'm not saying that the Heat are better off without Wade on the court. I'm saying that the Heat are a better team with him on the bench, as long as he's not even close to being 100 percent.
Ahead are five reasons why the Miami Heat are better off with Wade on the bench until he returns to absolutely 100 percent.
1) The Heat Have Proven They Can Win Without Wade
The Miami Heat are undefeated without Dwyane Wade. Sure, one of those games was also without LeBron James, but those wins have come against the Indiana Pacers (8-3), Atlanta Hawks (8-4) and New Jersey Nets (2-7), who have a combined record of 18-14. Just to put that into perspective, the Heat's other five wins have come against teams with a combined record of 19-39.
Without Wade in the lineup for three games, non-star players like Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole, in addition to both LeBron and Chris Bosh, stepped up their play accounting for 214 out of the 335 total points in those three games.
2) Amount of Touches Wade Gets, Takes Away from Non-Injured Players
Dwyane Wade doesn't necessarily have the best reputation when it comes to shot selection. In his three games back from his foot injury, Wade has gone 23-of-54 from the field for a weak 42.5 field-goal percentage, which has undoubtedly hurt his team. The fact of the matter is, as long as Wade is injured, the offensive touches that he sees are better suited for players on the court like LeBron or Bosh, who are playing at 100-percent health.
3) Wade's Injuries Hinder His Ability to Defend
During the Heat's three-game losing streak, which came after Wade returned from his foot injury, the Heat gave up an average of 107.7 points, which is a higher average than their current season average of 99.3 PPG, which ranks 27th in the entire NBA.
Dwyane Wade is a difference maker on defense when he is 100 percent. His ability to provide athletic help-side defense is a staple of the Heat's defensive game plan. When Wade is not 100 percent, his defense isn't 100 percent either.
4) LeBron and Bosh's Production Increases While Wade Is on the Bench
LeBron averaged 32.5 points and 11.0 assists per game without Wade, as compared to his season averages of 29.5 points and 7.4 assists per game. Bosh averaged 23.7 points and 2.7 assists, as compared to his season averages of 19.2 points and 1.8 assists per game.
LeBron's and Bosh's field-goal percentages have also gone up in games without Wade on the court, with LeBron's Wade-less average of 60.9 percent (57.8 percent season) and Bosh's Wade-less average of 52.8 percent (50.3 percent season).
