Has Wade stepping up hurt the Heat more than helped?

[juror1]

Just a thought, but from the point of view of a casual watcher of Heat games (not a fan, just been watching as many games as I can catch this year) it seems as if since game 1 of the finals Wade has in a way "stepped up" and attempted to put the team on his back and in a way altered the way he has played the entire season. Yes I know some of the things he's been doing he's done all year and throughout his career to a lesser extent, but it seems as if the second the finals began a switch went off in Wade and he's become a much more dominant player. While I know this sounds like a good thing, it's my thinking that the reason for the Heat's struggles could be that Wade has been too dominant, and it has set of the rest of the team, especially LeBron. Is it possible that in Wade trying to carry this team, rather than having the effect it had in 06 he is hurting it? Is it not possible that it is not so much that LeBron has shut down than that the second the finals started his partner in crime ran off without him and now he and the rest of the team are struggling to play with/support this new found domineering Dwyane Wade?

[Heat3]

I thought about this myself. It could have affected Lebron's rhythm.

[Ballamy]

That is just FLAT-OUT RIDICULOUS. Wade was clearly the best player in the Boston series going for over 30ppg on 53% shooting and he closed out games 1,2 and was key in game 4 when he scored 4 of their final 10 points including a 3 with a minute remaining... In game 5, while LEBron scored the final 10 points, it was Wade defensively who was a beast. He was parked by the rim and he altered Boston 4 final shots at the rim because of his fantastic shot blocking ability. And Boston did not score a single bucket in the final 5 minutes of regulation primarily because of Wade's defense.

But here in this Finals series LeBron is almost invisible in the 4th quarters ! LeBron has only 11 points in the 4th Qtrs through 5 games ! His defense has also been piss poor in the 4th quarters allowing Terry and Marion to score at will in the last few games. LeBron was 0/1 with just 1 rebound , 1 assist in the 4th quarter in game 4, and playing lazy uninspired basketball.... and in game 5 LeBron was allowing terry to score on him including driving on lebron easily in the 4th.. And of course LeBron was invisible on offense in the 4th of game 5. And then you have the fact that Bosh has been almost invisible as well in the critical 4th quarters too ! In Game 4, while Bosh had a great first half, Bosh was downright horrible in the 2nd half going for just 1/7 shooting in the 2nd half, a long with getting killed on the boards by Tyson Chandler (who had 16 rebounds in that game and most of them in the 2nd half - while bosh just had 6 for the game and only 2 rebounds in the 2nd half), and you add Bosh's turnovers in the 2nd half with his butterfingers in the 2nd half, to go along with his bad defense in the 2nd halves of games 4 and 5... Well it's no wonder that Wade is getting no help at all in the 4th quartes from LeBron and Bosh as the other 2 have been terrible in critical 4th quarters in this series (for the most part).

You can say whatever you want in the Bulls series about Wade. But in Games 3, 4 and 5 in the 4th quarters Wade came up HUGE, and clutch ! He was fantastic defensively in the 4th quarters with many clutch playmaking plays defensively. He only shot 41% for the series, HOWEVER in the 4th quarters Wade shot 57% in that series. Wade showed up when it counted in those 4th quarters when those tight games were decided!!

His defense was astounding in that Bulls series.. as evidenced here"

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamih ... -2-defense

And of course, Wade's unbelievable rebounding in that series was HUGE against a rebounding team like the Bulls that thrive on their rebounding. In Miami's wins in that series, Wade was a total BEAST on the boards, gaining many critical possessions for the Heat, in a series where rebounding was absolutely PARAMOUNT as it was a possessions series. Here is a great article showing how fantastic Wade was in that series in all other aspects of the game (and especially in 4th quarters when he came up big- and remember that Wade scored 9 of Miami's final 18 points in Game 5 to clinch the victory, Wade came up huge in the 4th quarters in that Chicago series:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showth ... p?t=225007

And of course it was Wade being double and triple teamed in the Boston and Philly series, but he was still the closer for over the first half of the Boston series and Wade was the closer in the Philly series:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamih ... pping-wade

LeBron has NOT been doing those things in the 4th quarters of this series when games are tight and being decided in the 4th quarters (and that's offensively and defensively where LeBron has been terrible). Wade has in the previous 2 series, stepping up his offense and defense in the PIVOTAL 4th quarters,.. Wade had 10 points in the 4th quarter last game in Game 5 against the Mavs again, but where was everybody else??. There in lies the difference between the two players. Wade has been showing up in 4th quarters through the entire postseason, while LeBron has chosen to be invisible in the 4th quarters of the NBA Finals in the series against Dallas (that's offensively and defensively).

And remember that Wade had a higher PER than LeBron after the first two rounds of the playoffs. Wade was better than any player in the league after the first two rounds of the playoffs:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showth ... p?t=222553

Wade did not have the efficiency when it came to his scoring in the Bulls series going for only 19 points per game on 41% shooting, HOWEVER Wade really stepped it up in the 4th quarters in their wins (offensively, defensively AND rebounding, and shot 57% in the 4th quarters in that series -- and of course Wade was just a BEAST his astounding defense and critical rebounding in the 4th quarters of those games, and some very important passes as well (all of that is MISSING from LeBron in the 4th quarters of this NBA Finals series against Dallas)

THOSE ARE THE REASONS why Miami won those series and in this series Miami is behind 3 games to 2. The problem is LeBron's disappearing act in the 4th quarters while Wade has been stepping up in the 4th quarters in these playoffs, and doing it consistently. Wade needs LeBron's help in these critical 4th quarters. LeBron needs to step up his defense, crash the boards for rebounds, take the initiative in the 4th quarters,.. JUST DO SOMETHING and stop playing like a scared D-leaguer in the 4th quarters.. Please LeBron.

[Chosen01]

That is just FLAT-OUT RIDICULOUS. Wade was clearly the best player in the Boston series going for over 30ppg on 53% shooting and he closed out games 1,2 and was key in game 4 when he scored 4 of their final 10 points including a 3 with a minute remaining... In game 5, while LEBron scored the final 10 points, it was Wade defensively who was a beast. He was parked by the rim and he altered Boston 4 final shots at the rim because of his fantastic shot blocking ability. And Boston did not score a single bucket in the final 5 minutes of regulation primarily because of Wade's defense.

But here in this Finals series LeBron is almost invisible in the 4th quarters ! LeBron has only 11 points in the 4th Qtrs through 5 games ! His defense has also been piss poor in the 4th quarters allowing Terry and Marion to score at will in the last few games. LeBron was 0/1 with just 1 rebound , 1 assist in the 4th quarter in game 4, and playing lazy uninspired basketball.... and in game 5 LeBron was allowing terry to score on him including driving on lebron easily in the 4th.. And of course LeBron was invisible on offense in the 4th of game 5. And then you have the fact that Bosh has been almost invisible as well in the critical 4th quarters too ! In Game 4, while Bosh had a great first half, Bosh was downright horrible in the 2nd half going for just 1/7 shooting in the 2nd half, a long with getting killed on the boards by Tyson Chandler (who had 16 rebounds in that game and most of them in the 2nd half - while bosh just had 6 for the game and only 2 rebounds in the 2nd half), and you add Bosh's turnovers in the 2nd half with his butterfingers in the 2nd half, to go along with his bad defense in the 2nd halves of games 4 and 5... Well it's no wonder that Wade is getting no help at all in the 4th quartes from LeBron and Bosh as the other 2 have been terrible in critical 4th quarters in this series (for the most part).

You can say whatever you want in the Bulls series about Wade. But in Games 3, 4 and 5 in the 4th quarters Wade came up HUGE, and clutch ! He was fantastic defensively in the 4th quarters with many clutch playmaking plays defensively. He only shot 41% for the series, HOWEVER in the 4th quarters Wade shot 57% in that series. Wade showed up when it counted in those 4th quarters when those tight games were decided!!

His defense was astounding in that Bulls series.. as evidenced here"

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamih ... -2-defense

And of course, Wade's unbelievable rebounding in that series was HUGE against a rebounding team like the Bulls that thrive on their rebounding. In Miami's wins in that series, Wade was a total BEAST on the boards, gaining many critical possessions for the Heat, in a series where rebounding was absolutely PARAMOUNT as it was a possessions series. Here is a great article showing how fantastic Wade was in that series in all other aspects of the game (and especially in 4th quarters when he came up big- and remember that Wade scored 9 of Miami's final 18 points in Game 5 to clinch the victory, Wade came up huge in the 4th quarters in that Chicago series:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showth ... p?t=225007

And of course it was Wade being double and triple teamed in the Boston and Philly series, but he was still the closer for over the first half of the Boston series and Wade was the closer in the Philly series:

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamih ... pping-wade

LeBron has NOT been doing those things in the 4th quarters of this series when games are tight and being decided in the 4th quarters (and that's offensively and defensively where LeBron has been terrible). Wade has in the previous 2 series, stepping up his offense and defense in the PIVOTAL 4th quarters,.. Wade had 10 points in the 4th quarter last game in Game 5 against the Mavs again, but where was everybody else??. There in lies the difference between the two players. Wade has been showing up in 4th quarters through the entire postseason, while LeBron has chosen to be invisible in the 4th quarters of the NBA Finals in the series against Dallas (that's offensively and defensively).

And remember that Wade had a higher PER than LeBron after the first two rounds of the playoffs. Wade was better than any player in the league after the first two rounds of the playoffs:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showth ... p?t=222553

Wade did not have the efficiency when it came to his scoring in the Bulls series going for only 19 points per game on 41% shooting, HOWEVER Wade really stepped it up in the 4th quarters in their wins (offensively, defensively AND rebounding, and shot 57% in the 4th quarters in that series -- and of course Wade was just a BEAST his astounding defense and critical rebounding in the 4th quarters of those games, and some very important passes as well (all of that is MISSING from LeBron in the 4th quarters of this NBA Finals series against Dallas)

THOSE ARE THE REASONS why Miami won those series and in this series Miami is behind 3 games to 2. The problem is LeBron's disappearing act in the 4th quarters while Wade has been stepping up in the 4th quarters in these playoffs, and doing it consistently. Wade needs LeBron's help in these critical 4th quarters. LeBron needs to step up his defense, crash the boards for rebounds, take the initiative in the 4th quarters,.. JUST DO SOMETHING and stop playing like a scared D-leaguer in the 4th quarters.. Please LeBron.

+1

[sutrick]

Only those closest to LeBron may know what the problem is but it is his problem and only his problem and Wade's great play is not an excuse for his uninspired play. Time for the Chosen 1 to play like LeBron should.

[DefenseWins]

It's not like Wade is taking 30 shots or something. Wade is shooting super efficient.

If you look at the numbers, LEBRON IS NOT SHOWING UP IN THE 4TH. Against Boston and Chicago he did, and the reason why Heat were in the Finals.

Now he doesn't do anything in the 4th but commit turn overs.

Game 2 he kept missing freakin' 3's

THen game 4 miss, turn over, charge (atleast he tried, would have been and 1), miss 3.

Not to blame just the superstars, but the team overall not making shots in the last minutes of the 4th, poor execution and defense have hurt the Heat this whole series.

but yeah Wade showing up in the 4th last series also won the series for the Heat. Now LeBron can't do the damn favor in this series.

He has 1 more shot.

[DWadeno3]

If you look at some advanced statistics, his USG% in the playoffs in general is lower (26.9%) compared to Wade's (30.6%) and he was still efficient in those previous series. Let's take a look at the five games in the Finals so far:

Wins

Game 1: USG% of 18.7 and an ORtg of 147
Game 3: USG% of 22.2 and an ORtg of 104

Losses:

Game 2: USG% of 27.6 and an ORtg of 99
Game 4: USG% of 17.9 and an ORtg of 75
Game 5: USG% of 25.8 and an ORtg of 98

I know it's too simple to just base it off of these statistics, but it's just a matter of LeBron not being his efficient self. In game 5 for example we used him quite often but his TS% of .428 compared to his .560 average during the playoffs shows you that he's simply having other issues. Give the Dallas defense some credit for disrupting his rhythm, but there's something else going on with him, let it be fatigue, personal issues or God forbig an injury we don't know about. Right now, LeBron James is just far away from being his normal self.

[Vertical Limit]

Stupidest thread I've read since people on this board suggested we're a better team without Wade in the 2006-2007 season.

[zogster]

I think it could have thrown LeBron off a little bit, but it's not a very good excuse.

However, Wade getting injured and sitting out part of that third quarter seemed to get LeBron going a bit and in attack mode a bit, I thought that Wade getting injured would actually turn out to be good in a way because LeBron would get going and then we would have both playing well.

Then Wade came back in and LeBron seemed to defer.

I personally think we need LeBron to be the main playmaker and tell him he's going to have the ball more than anyone else, and he needs to create. Wade is obviously a very good playmaker, but LeBron is still better, while Wade is the better pure scorer and is better playing off the ball and cutting than LeBron.

However, I'm not sure game 6 of the Finals, with elimination on the line, is the time to try to make such a change with LeBron not playing well. But I still think the Heat play best when LeBron is looking to score first and then pass, and has the ball a lot. LeBron looks to pass a lot, and not having the ball alot makes him pass too much of the time he actually has the ball. I think it is easier for Wade to focus just on scoring than LeBron, if that makes any sense. LeBron gets it going when he has the ball a lot and has a good rhythm to his game. Wade can get it going by simply getting the ball swung to him on the wing and him making a quick move. LeBron likes to survey the defense and make a play or attack if he deems that the best option.

[Miamis3rdRing]

I think it could have thrown LeBron off a little bit, but it's not a very good excuse.

This.

It was sometime during that introductory press conference where Wade and Bosh sort of suggested that everybody would have to tone their game down a bit, and defer to one another. LeBron said that's not true, and they have to go out and play their own games. LBJ was right. We're at our best and most dangerous when the Big 3 are firing on all cylinders.

He needs to take his own advice.

There's a difference between deferring and being passive. He's been the latter this series.

[DWadeno3]

I think it could have thrown LeBron off a little bit, but it's not a very good excuse.

However, Wade getting injured and sitting out part of that third quarter seemed to get LeBron going a bit and in attack mode a bit, I thought that Wade getting injured would actually turn out to be good in a way because LeBron would get going and then we would have both playing well.

Then Wade came back in and LeBron seemed to defer.

I personally think we need LeBron to be the main playmaker and tell him he's going to have the ball more than anyone else, and he needs to create. Wade is obviously a very good playmaker, but LeBron is still better, while Wade is the better pure scorer and is better playing off the ball and cutting than LeBron.

However, I'm not sure game 6 of the Finals, with elimination on the line, is the time to try to make such a change with LeBron not playing well. But I still think the Heat play best when LeBron is looking to score first and then pass, and has the ball a lot. LeBron looks to pass a lot, and not having the ball alot makes him pass too much of the time he actually has the ball.

Once again, this is becoming a Wade-James topic.
The Miami Heat play their basketball when we actually run plays the way we did at the beginning of the 4th in game 5. Both Dwyane and LeBron were active, moving and attacking and throwing great passes to cutting teammates. I believe they had a combined 7 assists in around 3 or 4 minutes during that stretch. We got so many easy layups inside and Dallas could not stop it.

As I pointed out in my previous post, Wade's usage rate has been higher throughout the entire playoffs and we've been pretty successful with it. His average rate in the postseason has been 30.6%. In the five Finals games, this number has been around average for him, so nothing really changed. Additionally, LeBron's usage rate hasn't really decreased a lot. He's just struggling offensively and it's not easy for him to score against the Dallas. I remember him having a hard time against them in the regular season as well. Plus, he might just be tired or injured and we don't even know about it. My point is, it's not about him not having the ball enough or whatsoever. He just doesn't look like himself out there at all.

[SweetTouch]

um the main reason lbj is not the same is that fact that his jumper has left him.
LBJ is a streak shooter, especially from 3. His jumpshot will come back to him probably by next week

[CoolD]

um the main reason lbj is not the same is that fact that his jumper has left him.
LBJ is a streak shooter, especially from 3. His jumpshot will come back to him probably by next week

Might be too late by then, but LeBrons game is suffering, in my opinion, here are some factors. One is his long ball has left, just like you mentioned, so what he does to counter he attacks, but he is not getting favorable calls once he attacks the rim, so once he losses confidence in his shot and his drive,and refs not giving him calls, he still talented enough to assist at his usual clip, but late in games, because he is too one dimensional, those passes turn into turnovers.

One thing I noticed, he is too concerned with the refs,when misses, he is just waiting for a bailout, he is being targeted, so he is a bit confused, hope he learns to forget the refs, just think about finishing And1 plays without getting calls, he doesn't happen to play for Dallas and be a blond German, so you will have to do it the hard way.
Funny thing too, once he starts playing better, refs might give him a call or two, oddly enough, refs have tendency to bail you out more often, when you are playing well, and they tend turn a blind eye, when you are not. Even if the refs don't switch, he has to still be aggressive.

[broke]

in one word. no, if Wade doesn't do what he's been doing we'd probably be eliminated by now. Bosh isn't a factor which is sad because i do like the guy as a player but he's become a jump shooter again.
our bench isnt going to win is this title, the big 3 need to be the big 3 that got us here to begin with.

[canefandynasty]

Wade Finals PER is a freaking 40.25, Dirks is a 26.21 in comparison. How exactly is Wade hurting the team?

[Tonyism74]

You Wade lovers can make all the statistical arguments you want, but its true. Wade wanting to exert more in the finals is altering the chemistry for which they have dominated all season. You cant account statsitcally for that aspect of the game. For Wade to tell the media that his team has to pass him the ball or share the ball more is an indirect message to LeBron. Everyone in the media and the league knows that LeBron was your regular season MVP and had the votes over Wade. LeBron is stepping on ice when deciding whether he wants to take over or not because of his negative imagimage. Mentally, this makes LeBron an ineffective bystander. And I hate LeBron. Ive liked Wade in the past, but Wade mocking Nowitzki and now saying he did that cause he knew the media was going to run with it tells me that Wade is an idiot. What was the point..to prove he knows media? What an idiot.

And no, this aint trolling. This is my opinion.

[dwade3]

You Wade lovers can make all the statistical arguments you want, but its true. Wade wanting to exert more in the finals is altering the chemistry for which they have dominated all season. You cant account statsitcally for that aspect of the game. For Wade to tell the media that his team has to pass him the ball or share the ball more is an indirect message to LeBron. Everyone in the media and the league knows that LeBron was your regular season MVP and had the votes over Wade. LeBron is stepping on ice when deciding whether he wants to take over or not because of his negative imagimage. Mentally, this makes LeBron an ineffective bystander. And I hate LeBron. Ive liked Wade in the past, but Wade mocking Nowitzki and now saying he did that cause he knew the media was going to run with it tells me that Wade is an idiot. What was the point..to prove he knows media? What an idiot.

And no, this aint trolling. This is my opinion.

Actually, take this **** to the general board..nobody gives a **** about ur opinion!!! peace...

[TrueRain]

You Wade lovers can make all the statistical arguments you want, but its true. Wade wanting to exert more in the finals is altering the chemistry for which they have dominated all season. You cant account statsitcally for that aspect of the game. For Wade to tell the media that his team has to pass him the ball or share the ball more is an indirect message to LeBron. Everyone in the media and the league knows that LeBron was your regular season MVP and had the votes over Wade. LeBron is stepping on ice when deciding whether he wants to take over or not because of his negative imagimage. Mentally, this makes LeBron an ineffective bystander. And I hate LeBron. Ive liked Wade in the past, but Wade mocking Nowitzki and now saying he did that cause he knew the media was going to run with it tells me that Wade is an idiot. What was the point..to prove he knows media? What an idiot.

And no, this aint trolling. This is my opinion.

There's enough of this petty BS in the GB. Take it over there. I promise you no one cares here.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

And no, this aint trolling. This is my opinion.

Wait, you mean all I have to do is type this at the end of my posts, and I can post whatever I want? That's awesome!

[Vertical Limit]

This thread is (Please Use More Appropriate Word) for many reasons. Wade stepping up is now hurting us? Jesus, if Wade didn't step up this series would have been over in Game 4 already.

Our defense not stepping up is the reason why the Heat are losing, not to mention Dallas is really exposing our roleplayers.

I can't stress enough how bad we need Dalembert this offseason. The guy is a great defensive C, a 6'11 guy, and he scores just a little over 50%. He's a post guy with strong hands that can dunk and attack the paint. He's not by all means some sort of superstar but when comparing him to an undersized C in Joel who is scoring a dreadful 38% of his attempts, it's not even a debate we would be a better team right now with Sammy D.

**** Tyson wouldn't even be able to stay on the **** court having to deal with a guy like him, it will be constant foul trouble for both.