Wade allowed himself to settle

[cb1]

Everybody has been wondering what's happened to Wade and why he's been having poor stretches not just this series but the indiana series(other than games 4-6). In my opinion, Wade has allowed himself to settle for just being good enough. The great players always strive to be great. They are never satisfied with their game and they feel like they can add something every year. Can anybody tell me what Wade has added to his game this year? I think throughout the whole season Wade sort of saw Lebron having an MVP season and just sat back and allowed himself to be comfortable instead of continuing to push himself. He basically decided that he could turn it on and off whenever he wants by coasting. I know that he was indeed injured during the year but i never did see an improvement from him this year. This is just my opinion is that he got too comfortable. As a matter of fact the whole team had that attitude and we all kept saying that it would come back to bite us in the ass.

[Flashpoint]

Hopefully we turn this thing around, but if not I think our downfall might have been in Wade, Lebron, Bosh talking less about pushing to make each other better, than about it being easier and not having to push as hard. Necessity is important to greatness. His best moments came when he had to be great. That always struck me as wrong when I heard Wade talking about how he wanted things to be easier. Of course it's going to make him less of a player.

[NoComparison]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn57sowIWr8[/youtube]

Coach Spo is the root of every Heat player's problem.

Nuff said,

[LeMVP]

Not sure if serious or trolling.

[cb1]

Hopefully we turn this thing around, but if not I think our downfall might have been in Wade, Lebron, Bosh talking less about pushing to make each other better, than about it being easier and not having to push as hard. Necessity is important to greatness. His best moments came when he had to be great. That always struck me as wrong when I heard Wade talking about how he wanted things to be easier. Of course it's going to make him less of a player.

Somebody made this point on this board when they said that we were at our best when Wade felt like he was the number 1 option and went out there and played like it. When the offense was basically Lebron, Wade, Bosh all playing like number 1 options was when we had our most success last year and not when we tried to get the whole team going. The media said 3 guys couldn't do it but they were two wins away. Basically when Wade accepted that Lebron would be the number 1 option on the team was when Wade decided to basically kick back and started having bad games.

[cb1]

Not sure if serious or trolling.

?? ofc am being serious. When Wade decided to accept the number 2 option, he got comfortable and didn't feel the need to be better.

[arsenic]

Not sure if serious or trolling.

?? ofc am being serious. When Wade decided to accept the number 2 option, he got comfortable and didn't feel the need to be better.

I mean...it's the playoffs. When Wade was out with injuries, Lebron and Bosh looked pretty damn dominant together. Bosh wasn't chilling until the 4th. Hell, sometimes Bosh was the most dominant player in a few of those games. I didn't know "#2 options" take off entire halves, and only play for a single quarter most of the time. What part of the game is that?

[cb1]

Not sure if serious or trolling.

?? ofc am being serious. When Wade decided to accept the number 2 option, he got comfortable and didn't feel the need to be better.

I mean...it's the playoffs. When Wade was out with injuries, Lebron and Bosh looked pretty damn dominant together. Bosh wasn't chilling until the 4th. Hell, sometimes Bosh was the most dominant player in a few of those games. I didn't know "#2 options" take off entire halves, and only play for a single quarter most of the time. What part of the game is that?

They need to get Wade back to thinking he's the number 1 option and the leader of the team even if he really isn't.

[TRG]

I'm beginning to question if moving Wade for 2-3 valuable role players would actually be a smartest move if this team is serious about winning... Can't believe I'm even questioning myself about this. I just don't like this new Big 3 era Wade as much as I did the old Wade and it's starting to become pretty clear that Wade is beginning to decline. He has spurts of greatness but then he goes back to being mediocre for his standards... IN THE PLAYOFFS. Am I the only one alarmed by this? Deep down do some of you guys really think that Wade can turn things around at his age?

All I can question right now is "who am I truly loyal to... Wade or the HEAT?"

[arsenic]

?? ofc am being serious. When Wade decided to accept the number 2 option, he got comfortable and didn't feel the need to be better.

I mean...it's the playoffs. When Wade was out with injuries, Lebron and Bosh looked pretty damn dominant together. Bosh wasn't chilling until the 4th. Hell, sometimes Bosh was the most dominant player in a few of those games. I didn't know "#2 options" take off entire halves, and only play for a single quarter most of the time. What part of the game is that?

They need to get Wade back to thinking he's the number 1 option and the leader of the team even if he really isn't.

So then...you're saying it's MENTAL with him? He just doesn't care as much anymore because he's no longer the "#1 option"? Really?

In other words...Wade doesn't necessarily want to...
1. Play damn near 48 minutes a game
2. Set up offense for players who can't get their own shots
3. Guard every position on the floor, going up against Centers
4. Not rest for an entire 2nd half
5. All while dropping 30+ every night and rebounding in double digits.

He just wants to FEEL like he's "#1" and only THEN will he help his team for more than a quarter? REALLY?

I sure as hell hope you're wrong. That's a piss poor delusional attitude to have then.

By the way, I'm pretty sure the entire team considers him a leader.

[cb1]

@arsenic
I think it is mental. When you go from a guy who feels like you're the best player on a team to a number 2 option, you have a subconscious letdown and allow yourself to settle into that role. Don't you think there's a chance that he's struggling to fit into his perceived "new role"? Am not saying that he doesn't want to do all the things you listed above, am saying that he most likely feels like he doesn't have to anymore and when we need him to transform back to his old role, he struggles to take over games. Maybe that is due to injuries but i think he got himself into the mindset of a 2nd option and took it a little bit easy. He's built bad habits. ESPN basically forced him to admit that Lebron is better than him by hammering him with those questions. Last year, they never asked him that. Some people were saying last year how we was probably better than Lebron.

[TheAnkh]

I don't think its all that mental with him though, although I do think even the coaching staff putting LeBron squarely at the forefront in regards to praises probably had some type of effect.

I think the way the offense is structured in general puts Wade in a passive mode. If you look at the offense, he's either standing in the corner with his hands on his knees half the time or getting the ball near the corner or far elbow off a series of unnecessary screens that get him even less open than if we had just swung the ball to him. Most of the time from that he just passes the ball back to the top of the key where there is more space. I think our bad offense for him is only magnified against Boston because when he finally does get it in space at the top, they are trapping the hell out of him.

Its funny though, all the people who demanded that Wade take a backseat to LeBron and allow him to be the man are screaming bloody murder that Wade isn't putting up what he put up last year against the Celtics. I said from the beginning that us forcing that distinction made 0 sense and only served the media as opposed to the team. Its unfortunate that we not only forced the verbal commitment that there is 'a man' on this team with 2 dominant superstars in their prime, but that we implemented an offense that reflected it.

[arsenic]

@arsenic
I think it is mental. When you go from a guy who feels like you're the best player on a team to a number 2 option, you have a subconscious letdown and allow yourself to settle into that role. Don't you think there's a chance that he's struggling to fit into his perceived "new role"? Am not saying that he doesn't want to do all the things you listed above, am saying that he most likely feels like he doesn't have to anymore and when we need him to transform back to his old role, he struggles to take over games. Maybe that is due to injuries but i think he got himself into the mindset of a 2nd option and took it a little bit easy. He's built bad habits. ESPN basically forced him to admit that Lebron is better than him by hammering him with those questions. Last year, they never asked him that. Some people were saying last year how we was probably better than Lebron.

Well here's the thing...all of these things Lebron is doing, he did last year too, only now he's doing it at a higher level. If Wade really wants to be "#1" then he has to bring all of those intangibles that Lebron does night in and out. Wade is never going to want to play 48 minutes, set other guys up to score, rebound at a high level, and defend every position, all while being expected to drop 30 each night. In fact, I'll venture to say he can't do it. So if Wade really feels how you're explaining to me...not only is it mental but its a sense of SELF-ENTITLEMENT which isn't good. You can't have someone other than you carry the burden like a workhorse and yet still want all the glory for yourself.

Besides, Wade isn't even playing like a "2nd option". You don't take off entire halves, and show up for just a single quarter or two and call yourself a "2nd option", that's just flat out NO EFFORT. Because again, we saw with Wade out injured, Lebron/Bosh made a pretty strong duo, and at times BOSH was the best player on the floor for the night. So this "2nd option resentment" is non-sense. Not to mention Wade dropped 40 on the Pacers just last series, and that wasn't playing like any kind of "option", that was playing like a super star.

[Heat_team02]

Wade vs Boston this season :
3 games: 37 mpg 19.7 ppg 43% FG 0% 3Pt 68% FT 3.7 reb 5.3 ast 2.3 To

Wade vs Boston this series:

5 games: 42.8 mpg 22 ppg 45% FG 30% 3Pt 76% FT 5.2 reb 4.8 ast 3.2 To

[cb1]

@arsenic
I think it is mental. When you go from a guy who feels like you're the best player on a team to a number 2 option, you have a subconscious letdown and allow yourself to settle into that role. Don't you think there's a chance that he's struggling to fit into his perceived "new role"? Am not saying that he doesn't want to do all the things you listed above, am saying that he most likely feels like he doesn't have to anymore and when we need him to transform back to his old role, he struggles to take over games. Maybe that is due to injuries but i think he got himself into the mindset of a 2nd option and took it a little bit easy. He's built bad habits. ESPN basically forced him to admit that Lebron is better than him by hammering him with those questions. Last year, they never asked him that. Some people were saying last year how we was probably better than Lebron.

Well here's the thing...all of these things Lebron is doing, he did last year too, only now he's doing it at a higher level. If Wade really wants to be "#1" then he has to bring all of those intangibles that Lebron does night in and out. Wade is never going to want to play 48 minutes, set other guys up to score, rebound at a high level, and defend every position, all while being expected to drop 30 each night. In fact, I'll venture to say he can't do it. So if Wade really feels how you're explaining to me...not only is it mental but its a sense of SELF-ENTITLEMENT which isn't good. You can't have someone other than you carry the burden like a workhorse and yet still want all the glory for yourself.

Besides, Wade isn't even playing like a "2nd option". You don't take off entire halves, and show up for just a single quarter or two and call yourself a "2nd option", that's just flat out NO EFFORT. Because again, we saw with Wade out injured, Lebron/Bosh made a pretty strong duo, and at times BOSH was the best player on the floor for the night. So this "2nd option resentment" is non-sense. Not to mention Wade dropped 40 on the Pacers just last series, and that wasn't playing like any kind of "option", that was playing like a super star.

When Lebron got here last year, he was basically forced to adjust his game to Wade because the media was preaching that this is Wade's team, he's been a champion before. This led to some (not all) of his passiveness in the finals. Lebron though is such a great player that he still found a way to play like he was the number 1 option. So basically we had two number 1 options on the team and that's what made us so great. This year though Wade for some reason has decided to take a backseat to Lebron all year. He hasn't been himself and the numbers reflect it. Maybe it's the injuries. I don't even think he wants to be the number 1 option anymore because he's accepted the fact that Lebron is better than him and that is the problem. Wade needs to go back to thinking that he's the best player in the world. Last year i can bet you that he played with that mentality every night and that led to better effort from him. I don't think he truly resents the 2nd option role at all is my point, if anything it made him relax and coast a little bit and now he's struggling to break out of it which is why every once in a while you see him jog back when everybody else is sprinting.

[cb1]

I don't think its all that mental with him though, although I do think even the coaching staff putting LeBron squarely at the forefront in regards to praises probably had some type of effect.

I think the way the offense is structured in general puts Wade in a passive mode. If you look at the offense, he's either standing in the corner with his hands on his knees half the time or getting the ball near the corner or far elbow off a series of unnecessary screens that get him even less open than if we had just swung the ball to him. Most of the time from that he just passes the ball back to the top of the key where there is more space. I think our bad offense for him is only magnified against Boston because when he finally does get it in space at the top, they are trapping the hell out of him.

Its funny though, all the people who demanded that Wade take a backseat to LeBron and allow him to be the man are screaming bloody murder that Wade isn't putting up what he put up last year against the Celtics. I said from the beginning that us forcing that distinction made 0 sense and only served the media as opposed to the team. Its unfortunate that we not only forced the verbal commitment that there is 'a man' on this team with 2 dominant superstars in their prime, but that we implemented an offense that reflected it.

This This This. Even our coaching staff sent him an indirect message that Lebron is the man now and we're gunna do everything through him. Of course we're not gunna get the same Dwyane Wade consistently anymore. He doesn't feel the need to be that guy anymore unless we sorely need it as in game 6 vs Indiana.

[arsenic]

I don't think its all that mental with him though, although I do think even the coaching staff putting LeBron squarely at the forefront in regards to praises probably had some type of effect.

I think the way the offense is structured in general puts Wade in a passive mode. If you look at the offense, he's either standing in the corner with his hands on his knees half the time or getting the ball near the corner or far elbow off a series of unnecessary screens that get him even less open than if we had just swung the ball to him. Most of the time from that he just passes the ball back to the top of the key where there is more space. I think our bad offense for him is only magnified against Boston because when he finally does get it in space at the top, they are trapping the hell out of him.

Its funny though, all the people who demanded that Wade take a backseat to LeBron and allow him to be the man are screaming bloody murder that Wade isn't putting up what he put up last year against the Celtics. I said from the beginning that us forcing that distinction made 0 sense and only served the media as opposed to the team. Its unfortunate that we not only forced the verbal commitment that there is 'a man' on this team with 2 dominant superstars in their prime, but that we implemented an offense that reflected it.

This This This. Even our coaching staff sent him an indirect message that Lebron is the man now and we're gunna do everything through him. Of course we're not gunna get the same Dwyane Wade consistently anymore. He doesn't feel the need to be that guy anymore unless we sorely need it as in game 6 vs Indiana.

Explain the offense when Wade is out there alone with a 2nd unit then. There should be no reason for Lebron to ever have to come off the bench after a lousy minute of rest because things can't keep a float. This is something we've seen series after series.

[cb1]

I don't think its all that mental with him though, although I do think even the coaching staff putting LeBron squarely at the forefront in regards to praises probably had some type of effect.

I think the way the offense is structured in general puts Wade in a passive mode. If you look at the offense, he's either standing in the corner with his hands on his knees half the time or getting the ball near the corner or far elbow off a series of unnecessary screens that get him even less open than if we had just swung the ball to him. Most of the time from that he just passes the ball back to the top of the key where there is more space. I think our bad offense for him is only magnified against Boston because when he finally does get it in space at the top, they are trapping the hell out of him.

Its funny though, all the people who demanded that Wade take a backseat to LeBron and allow him to be the man are screaming bloody murder that Wade isn't putting up what he put up last year against the Celtics. I said from the beginning that us forcing that distinction made 0 sense and only served the media as opposed to the team. Its unfortunate that we not only forced the verbal commitment that there is 'a man' on this team with 2 dominant superstars in their prime, but that we implemented an offense that reflected it.

This This This. Even our coaching staff sent him an indirect message that Lebron is the man now and we're gunna do everything through him. Of course we're not gunna get the same Dwyane Wade consistently anymore. He doesn't feel the need to be that guy anymore unless we sorely need it as in game 6 vs Indiana.

Explain the offense when Wade is out there alone with a 2nd unit then. There should be no reason for Lebron to ever have to come off the bench after a lousy minute of rest because things can't keep a float. This is something we've seen series after series.

Last year when we put him out there with that 2nd unit, he was already aggressive from the get go so it was easy for him to continue but now i notice we don't look for him as much early anymore and surely part of that is just him lacking intensity from the start. I hate how we start games with the ball in Lebron's hands almost every possession and we see passes to Joel or the lesser players. Wade last year would have demanded it from the get go.

[arsenic]

This This This. Even our coaching staff sent him an indirect message that Lebron is the man now and we're gunna do everything through him. Of course we're not gunna get the same Dwyane Wade consistently anymore. He doesn't feel the need to be that guy anymore unless we sorely need it as in game 6 vs Indiana.

Explain the offense when Wade is out there alone with a 2nd unit then. There should be no reason for Lebron to ever have to come off the bench after a lousy minute of rest because things can't keep a float. This is something we've seen series after series.

Last year when we put him out there with that 2nd unit, he was already aggressive from the get go so it was easy for him to continue but now i notice we don't look for him early anymore and surely part of that is just him lacking intensity from the start.

When it's just Wade on the floor, they have no choice but to look for him! Hahaha so I don't buy that. I don't recall Bosh being out on the floor with just Wade though at any point last night so maybe tomorrow we will see some of that which should help him a lot.

[cb1]

He should have no problems with Bosh spacing for him. He won't feel the need to defer to Bosh either so we'll see.