Riles has Wade's back

[DBurks2818]

linky

South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Riley lashes out at Wade's critics, says guard might be shut down
By Ira Winderman

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

9:56 PM EST, February 29, 2008

SEATTLE

Coach Pat Riley issued a stern warning Friday night to critics of Dwyane Wade to get off the back of the Heat guard.

Riley then said he has Wade's back, and is considering soon shutting down his leading scorer for an extended period.

Speaking before his team's late game against the Seattle SuperSonics at KeyArena, Riley lashed out at the various television commentators who have questioned Wade's standing among the league's elite.

Riley said, at 26 and coming off offseason knee and shoulder surgeries, Wade is getting far too much of the blame for his uneven play and the 10-45 record the Heat took into Friday night.

"He's going to toughen up. He's going to become who he was again, and I think it's unfair for him to be called out like that," Riley said.

Instead, Riley cast Wade as a player who has refused to give in to adversity, even as he clearly has not been 100 percent since the start of the season.

"He definitely is not who he is, so let's face that," Riley said. "He hasn't complained. He hasn't called anybody out. He hasn't demanded to be traded. He hasn't quit on his team. He goes out there and tries to do what he can do. Some nights he's better than other nights, when he feels better."

And then there are nights such as Thursday in Los Angeles against the Lakers, when Wade was outscored 17-0 by Kobe Bryant in the first half on the way to a 106-88 loss.

That has Riley considering life without Wade for an extended period.

"We have to be realistic here, OK?" Riley said. "If the guy is playing hurt and playing hurt could get him to a point where he could have another catastrophic injury, for whatever reason, it's foolish with your most important asset.

"He's going to continue to play, and he never complained, minutes or anything. But that's going to be a franchise decision more than anything else."

It was the first time Riley discussed shutting down Wade.

"Somewhere along the way, if this thing gets further away from us, then I think it would be prudent to say, 'We've got to take care of our best asset,' " Riley said.

Riley stressed such a hiatus has not be requested by Wade.

"This is Dwyane's first time, double surgery, going through a tough, tough time, and people won't give him the benefit of the doubt," Riley said. "He's got to be something that maybe he can't be at 25. Kobe learned over 10 years, 11 years in this league to get where he's at.

"Give Dwyane a little time to learn from this adversity, develop some backbone more from this adversity, and we'll see what we've got. I think this is what the process is going to be about for him this year: What's the purpose? What is the purpose of this year and going through this kind of year? What do you learn from it?"

Riley said the frustration was particularly apparent during Thursday's loss at Staples Center.

"I know he's frustrated by some nights when he doesn't play well," Riley said. "We shared a little laugh at the end of the game. It was like, 'Man, it's going to be like this, Coach, some nights?' I said, 'Yeah.' "

SMUSHED SIGNALS

Riley indicated before Friday's game that a buyout with exiled guard Smush Parker would be completed by Saturday's 11:59 p.m. deadline for Parker to retain playoff eligibility with another team.

"That is coming to a head," Riley said. "We're working very hard to settle this."

Billy Ceisler, who represents the guard who has been on paid leave since a run-in with a parking attendant in November, said a resolution is not close.

"We're not on the same page as of right now," Ceisler said

[DBurks2818]

Good to hear.

I think the Heat will be back next season if DW's able to recover with some extended rest. Watching this NOH/UTA game, it's amazing what a difference drafting a stud PG can make. These teams went from the lottery to the top of their conference in two seasons.

Of course, having West/Chandler and Boozer, respectively, helps... but Miami does have this Wade guy and that Shawn Marion guy. Who's to say they can't make the leap to a top-3 record right away with someone like Rose or Bayless?

[unowen85]

Shut Wade down when Daequan comes back, gleaming with confidence, from his stint with the Energy.

[heat4life]

Now we really need Giricek

[Lane1974]

Ira*

*(Newble, or the other one)

[Flash3]

Can Riley & management tell Wade NOT to partake in Olympic play?

[LEIF]

Wade needs to be shut down after tonights game against Seattle in which he is going to score 40.

book it!

[MartyConlonJr]

"Somewhere along the way, if this thing gets further away from us, then I think it would be prudent to say, 'We've got to take care of our best asset,' " Riley said.

Further away? It's as away as it gets.

[Hoops23]

"This is Dwyane's first time, double surgery, going through a tough, tough time, and people won't give him the benefit of the doubt," Riley said. "He's got to be something that maybe he can't be at 25. Kobe learned over 10 years, 11 years in this league to get where he's at.

"Give Dwyane a little time to learn from this adversity, develop some backbone more from this adversity, and we'll see what we've got. I think this is what the process is going to be about for him this year: What's the purpose? What is the purpose of this year and going through this kind of year? What do you learn from it?"

I think this is the reason Miami should not sit Wade this season. I don't agree shutting him down but minimize his playing time.

[MiamiHeatFan2004]

Is Wade risking further injury by playing? If not, then he shouldn't shut it down.

[dflash3]

Is Wade risking further injury by playing? If not, then he shouldn't shut it down.

The season is lost and Wade doesn't look a 100% on the court. He isn't going to get anytime to recover by playing in games. It would be for the best in the longterm if he shut it down and gave his body time to recover and get an early start on his offseason workout to make up for the months he missed due to surgery.

It wouldn't help his standing among other players in the league, but it'll be a lot easier for him to get back up in the elite category in the future.

After all, I'd say Baron has climbed his way back up into being one of the top pgs in the league after going through several injury riddled season.

[TheCelticTruth]

Is Wade risking further injury by playing? If not, then he shouldn't shut it down.

i came over to see what you guys thought after reading about riley's comments on wiretap, and i have to agree with the guy i quoted, because i know for a fact that nba karma doesnt look kindly come lottery time on any loss of games that was not necessary. please reference my very own team in 1997 and 2007. 97 was a clear tank, and our odds to get the number 1 and duncan were overwhelming, obviously, we all kno what happened there.

last season we nursed PP more than he needed and even that came and bit us, as we got the lowest pick we could have possibly gotten. now im not gonna say im not happy with the way last year turned out, but if we hadnt have been lucky enough that we could trade for ray allen without giving up al jefferson, KG wouldnt be in boston, and wed probably be right along with you guys.

so im not here gloating on your misfortune, not at all, im just worried for you (because i like wade a lot, im just glad we got to see kansas and not marquette in the ncaa final in '03) due to our bad experiences and that of other teams (i.e. memphis) when dropping extra games to gain lottery position. then again, if your luck didnt pan out but you could keep marion and trade the high pick for maybe jermaine o'neal or someone else who didnt get dealt at the deadline but might at draft, maybe you could follow a similar pattern to what DA did for us this year...best wishes, and we all over at the boston board (despite a few superficial souls who have short memories and like to gloat) can commiserate with a bad year.

[Flash4thewin]

Its like being between a rock and a hard place. Play Wade and hurt the chances to get a player that will make a difference. What would that "teach us"? Or Make Wade rehab which he needs and give us the opportunity to get an extended look at Cook and Dorell to see where they really stand. We need to be developing our young talent because Ricky and Jwill wont be here next season.

[Hoops23]

Heat guard Dwyane Wade says he is not inclined to accept an offer from coach Pat Riley to end his season prematurely due to ongoing complications from last May's knee surgery.

"Right now," Wade said, "my job is to come out here every day and lead my team."

link
Looks like Wade will play for the rest of the season.

Whatever the decision of the Heat, I believe it

[realfung]

Sometimes rebuilding takes longer time, not always like 2 -3 years.

[Vertical Limit]

Heat guard Dwyane Wade says he is not inclined to accept an offer from coach Pat Riley to end his season prematurely due to ongoing complications from last May's knee surgery.

"Right now," Wade said, "my job is to come out here every day and lead my team."

link
Looks like Wade will play for the rest of the season.

Whatever the decision of the Heat, I believe it

[Ming Kong!]

Now we really need Giricek

Gordan Giricek? Dude that guy sucks.

[Lane1974]

no, Herb Giricek, his brother

[Hoops23]

How about shutting down the olympics too? I dont think its fair for the Heat if he plays for the olympics.

[DBurks2818]

Maybe shut him down the last two weeks of the season. That'll give him a head start on 3 months of rest between the NBA season and the start of USA basketball training (July 20th). Should be enough to refresh him for the next season.