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In more than a couple interviews I've seen from Wade this season, he says he lost his hops and said he's getting old in one of them. He's in his prime now and shouldn't have lost anything yet, what do you think?

Wade has had his shots blocked a lot more this year and his dunks have been way fewer and far between. I thought it was due to him being scared of re-injuring the shoulder, but maybe he has lost some hops and has to settle for layups now when he used to slam em down.

Look at this about his dunk last night:

"It was evening the score," Wade said. "I don't have the hops I used to have. I just smiled and he dunked on me. He got me. That happens to everybody. But to get him back, and he fell, was even better"

I know he had surgery on one knee, but guys like Kobe have barely lost any hops and they're much older and played longer.

Do you think Wade is just saying that and he will recover his old high flying ways, or will we see more layups from now on and less of those spectacular dunks?

Wade will be far more explosive next year.

Any athlete who's had surgery on there knee will you it's take atleast a year(post rebab) to fully recover and regain explosion. Atleast.

It was said right when he got the surgery that full recovery time is one year and it's pretty obvious Wade doesn't have his normal hops.

He's also playing with the worst supporting cast of any superstar and in an extremely slow half court offense with zero easy fast break buckets. And he's been playing hurt all year and is still putting up all-star numbers. Can you imagine if Wade got to play in a system like Denver's?

Wade didn't lose his hops. He's just wearing the wrong shoes..

Wade will be back to normal next season IMO.

Wade was never a super-explosive leaper to begin with... His vert matches up with like Andrew Bogut. He's no Josh Smith. Remember, he's 6'5 and has a 6'11 wingspan. Most of what he does pertains to his first step, not his hops and he can still clearly get up enough to dunk pretty effectively.

His knee's still bugging him for sure, even Riley said as much, he's not 100% yet or even really close to it.

Talking specifically about his shots being blocked, 82games.com has him getting his shot blocked 5% which is slightly higher than last year and the same as the 2 years prior.

He's not 100% but next season he should be back and explosive as before.

With his knee limiting the dunks, this season he has had the opportunity to work on his jump shot as part of his game, which has shown improvement IMO.

He's coming back strong next season. Need to shut him down by mid March.

I think Wade is close to 100 percent physically, people are just making alot of excuses for him. He just needs to be more consistent with his midrange, and bankshots, that is why at times he looks average. There is nothing wrong with Wade, he is just making excuses because last night he got dunked on, it happens to Zo all the time, that is what happens when you try to block shots all the time.

CoolD wrote:I think Wade is close to 100 percent physically, people are just making alot of excuses for him. He just needs to be more consistent with his midrange, and bankshots, that is why at times he looks average. There is nothing wrong with Wade, he is just making excuses because last night he got dunked on, it happens to Zo all the time, that is what happens when you try to block shots all the time.

umm...no. I don't know about you, but I've practically seen every single game Wade has played in the NBA and it's extremely obvious that he does not have his RIDICULOUS explosion, quickness, and lift right now.

I think you need some highlights from previous seasons to refresh your memory.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pkRS6qE_cgQ&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zw8m2AdutaY&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XXjUq_8w8s8&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=M6zj0v5VZ2Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGa0DFw5vt0

seems ok to me

Wade the same?

He used to be good for 2 or 3 plays every single night that made your jaw drop.

Now we're lucky if it's weekly.

Wade physically is the same, yeah at times he might linger around and his legs might be tight early in the games. But if you pay attention, the reason he looks average, is because he hasn't been as consistent with his shot, his bankshots seem to have disappear, everyone is making excuses for him. The guy looks fast, just defenses know Wade is going to drive it, so they pack it in. That is why his midrange and bankshots have to be more consistent, to open up his dunks. The guy is still putting numbers, just when his shot is off, is when he looks average.

I disagree completely (and I'm sure I'm not alone). I agree that the rest of his game is off and not sharp, but I think that all starts with him not being a 100% physically. He's forcing the issue way too much, and partly because he can't do whatever he wants physically, as he's been used to doing in the past.

In the past, NO ONE could stay in front of him, pretty much all game. That is certainly not the case this year, and I really don't know how you could argue otherwise. Honestly, you really don't see a difference athletically and explosively between this year's Wade and 03-07 Wade?

but i don't get it i thought the wade injury was minor ..like nothing compared to a microfracture surgery ..same one kobe got in the offseaosn of 06-07 season and kobe didnt lose anything or needed a year ... why does wade its weird ... i guess everyones different

nycballer718 wrote:but i don't get it i thought the wade injury was minor ..like nothing compared to a microfracture surgery ..same one kobe got in the offseaosn of 06-07 season and kobe didnt lose anything or needed a year ... why does wade its weird ... i guess everyones different

Kobe also is a seasoned vet with a lot more experience, craft, and skill than Dwade. Kobe doesn't rely on his athleticism as much as Wade. He's more polished.

Kobe is so skilled that it we didn't notice a drop-off in his game last year, but he definitely did not drive as much or dunk it as much as he usually had in the past. There's a big difference between present Kobe and young Kobe in terms of athleticism and explosiveness.

I'm not sure, but didn't Arenas and Wade have the same surgery this year?

Arenas

Team physician Dr. Marc Connell repaired a partial tear of the meniscus and performed microfracture surgery on a non-weight bearing bone on the side of his knee.

link

Wade underwent surgery to relieve tendinitis in his knee. I think Wade had the same surgery Jwill had.

oh yea, now I remember

here we go again, message board posters putting themselves in a player's body...

Lane1974 wrote:here we go again, message board posters putting themselves in a player's body...

Ira is always the voice of reason.