Wade's Sacrifice that is often unnoticed

Tien · Post #1 » by **Tien** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 8:27 am

I see this all the time since last year as well as this year.

You look at the box score and you immediately go to conclusions on what you think is the reason why Wade's stat line is horrendous.

Wade has slowly since late last year let go of the reigns and handed over the play making to LeBron. Wade realized that himself being the best player on the court does not make the team as powerful as LeBron being the best player on the court.

Since late last season, the rolls on offense has shifted considerably. You rarely see LeBron hanging out in the corner 3 to help facilitate a play for whichever player if he's on the floor with Wade.

LeBron is the defacto playmaker / ball handler.

This means Wade no longer gets shots in rhythm. No longer gets the ball in his favorite spots. No longer gets to handle the ball at the point for stretches of games.

This is a brutal transition for a player so effective and so good at handling the ball at the point for his entire career. But look at this season's statline for Wade, still very good. He's handling the transition very well but there are a lot of bumps and bruises along the journey.

Bosh had to do this right in 2010 and 2011. Every one that watched Miami those 2 years saw how brutal it was for Bosh. Took 2 years(!) for him to figure out where his spots would be.

I call it the ultimate sacrifice. But of course, as is the norm, while a player is going through a bad stretch, he'll have everyone crowding around trying to throw dirt at him. This bad stretch isn't the first time, and it sure won't be the last. Have perspective, and enjoy the ups and downs of the season.

LeChosen1 · Post #2 » by **LeChosen1** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 8:49 am

The only decline in wade is mental. Hes hesitant on jumpshots now and has ZERO confidence in his 3 point game old wade would shoot no matter what but now he is second guessing himself which is never a good sign for a scorer like Wade. Then Wade is not as agile, he still quick just not get to rack and power down quick, which you can see frustrates him alot and He is relying on being fouled instead of just getting the basket. He can counteract by going to post since lebron has opted for a more outside game with Bosh, which would lead to better looks at the basket.

DWadeno3 · Post #3 » by **DWadeno3** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 10:47 am

I'm tired of talking about Wade being on the decline or the sacrifice he made as an explanation or excuse for his play. The sole reason with him is effort and nothing else. He always has flashes of greatness but then you'll just see him trot around. It's not that he CAN'T do it on a consistent level, it's just that he doesn't want to put the necessary work in on a consistent level like he did before the Nets game and like LeBron does every single night. The old Wade with a great work ethic is gone.

orangeparka · Post #4 » by **orangeparka** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 1:00 pm

Doesn't explain his terrible effort.

TheDon008 · Post #5 » by **TheDon008** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 1:49 pm

orangeparka wrote:Doesn't explain his terrible effort.

OP, Very good write up, and you are dead right.

But this dude is right. Wade's effort dosnt seem its where it used to be.

I havent missed a heat game since 99. And There's a definite clear difference from Hungry wade, and Lazy wade. I can see it.

Hoping he comes around.

Laazard · Post #6 » by **Laazard** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 1:52 pm

I'm newbe here, but like most of us I followed Wade's career from the very beginning and I have to admit, despite being Wade's huge fan, that he is not the same Dwayne we knew earlier.

But... I've noticed it like 5 years ago?

When he won the chip, he had everything here in Miami, unfortunately he had also Shaq who was not the greatest mentor for a young guy. Also, the explosion of his talent early in his career didn't help him to be honest. I think at that time everything was easy for him and maybe he assumed that's the way it will be later in his career. It wasn't.

There were also injuries, especially this shoulder injury. After that he came strong, with MVP type of season but even then he wasn't himself. He started to shoot threes at low rate, lost his mid range etc...

Then he teamed up with Lebron. It was great for our franchise but no so great for his game. He was older and worse so he was the the one who had to adjust to the situation. Then, of course next injuries. And that's how vicious cycle goes...

Ikcelaks · Post #7 » by **Ikcelaks** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 2:02 pm

orangeparka wrote:Doesn't explain his terrible effort.

Yes. The criticism of Wade is justified by the fact that he regressed from being a Plus defender to a Minus defender who takes plays/games off. His offense is "fine". It's down by his lofty standards, but it's still very good compared to the typical NBA player. The offense certainly isn't what's causing the Heat problems.

The Heat are struggling right now because they're a small-ball team that can't stop opposing guards from doing whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it. When the only player on your team capable of containing RAYMOND FELTON is you PF, that's a problem.

fast-break · Post #8 » by **fast-break** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 2:29 pm

The talk of Wade and "sacrifice" anytime he has a bad game...yawn.

MMyhre · Post #9 » by **MMyhre** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 2:52 pm

Yeah he sacrificed soooooo much, now he has to go 3-13 and play no defense whatsoever in every big game. Did Santa Claus drain him of his basketball powers?

TRG · Post #10 » by **TRG** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 3:27 pm

Ikcelaks wrote:
orangeparka wrote:Doesn't explain his terrible effort.

Yes. The criticism of Wade is justified by the fact that he regressed from being a Plus defender to a Minus defender who takes plays/games off. His offense is "fine". It's down by his lofty standards, but it's still very good compared to the typical NBA player. The offense certainly isn't what's causing the Heat problems.

The Heat are struggling right now because they're a small-ball team that can't stop opposing guards from doing whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it. When the only player on your team capable of containing RAYMOND FELTON is you PF, that's a problem.

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

Zasterror · Post #11 » by **Zasterror** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 3:51 pm

Effort. Nuff said.

DWadeno3 · Post #12 » by **DWadeno3** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 4:05 pm

It's become really obvious that it's just effort. All this talk about "Sometimes I have my legs, sometimes I don't" or "I have to work my way back into it, find my rhythm" is just a big bulls*** excuse to be lazy and that's all there's to it. Wade looked great in preseason, he looked very good in both Brooklyn games, the Phoenix game, he was decent against Boston, he was pretty good against Milwaukee and heck, even in some of the bad games he had some solid stretches. Wade may not be a freak athlete anymore, but he's still very athletic and more than capable of blowing by people and jumping up with the best of them. He just chooses not to sometimes, because it is work.

Speaking of work, before the Brooklyn game, it was reported that he went to the gym earlier that morning and worked on the kinks in his game and surprise, there is the dominant superstar. The problem is, he doesn't do that as often anymore. The reason LeBron is so good on a consistent level is because he's always in the gym to make sure he doesn't lose his rhythm. Wade used to do this too, even in 10/11 when LeBron and CB were here. But somehow, he thinks he doesn't need this anymore until the playoffs come around. I'm gonna give him a little time, since we're not even 20 games in, but if he doesn't come around, somebody needs to kick his ass hard and that someone probably needs to be Riley. If Wade continues this inconsistent, lazy bulls***, I hope Riley rips him a new one in public.

Flash4thewin · Post #13 » by **Flash4thewin** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 4:08 pm

Unless this is about sacrificing effort it makes no sense to post this after Wade effort/performance last night. I wouldnt be surprised if Charles texted Wade and Bosh a picture of Tito Jackson after the game to taunt them

diablerouge · Post #14 » by **diablerouge** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 4:15 pm

whenever he misses a layup and yells at the officials while slowly getting up and jogs back in transition D with his man draining a corner 3 - i think of the sacrifices he's had to make.

LoneWanderer · Post #15 » by **LoneWanderer** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 4:26 pm

diablerouge wrote:whenever he misses a layup and yells at the officials while slowly getting up and jogs back in transition D with his man draining a corner 3 - i think of the sacrifices he's had to make.

Uhmm I want to write something to defend Dwade, but its just tooo much effort man, its the regular season and I don't want to stress my fingers typing... its just too much...

But seriously I hope Wade gets over whatever he's going through.

stepbackjftw · Post #16 » by **stepbackjftw** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 4:30 pm

any superstar would lose some of their drive if they had to play second fiddle. just not as fun as being the man on the team

DWadeno3 · Post #17 » by **DWadeno3** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 4:35 pm

stepbackjftw wrote:any superstar would lose some of their drive if they had to play second fiddle. just not as fun as being the man on the team

You should know better if you're an actual Bulls fan. This post is garbage.

stepbackjftw · Post #18 » by **stepbackjftw** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 4:44 pm

DWadeno3 wrote:
stepbackjftw wrote:any superstar would lose some of their drive if they had to play second fiddle. just not as fun as being the man on the team

You should know better if you're an actual Bulls fan. This post is garbage.

no i'm just being realistic, he has nothing to prove in the regular season

Tien · Post #19 » by **Tien** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 4:56 pm

Did anybody notice he's been spending the entire summer doing nothing because of a surgery?

Whenever he has a string of good games, nobody says anything, he has 1 bad game and its as if it was that way the entire season.

I've come to accept because of a variety of reasons not related to effort, he can't be the 2009-2010 Wade where he comes out every game scoring 25-30. But that's not what you need him to do anymore.

And honestly, if you want to talk about effort, the entire team has been playing without effort.

diablerouge · Post #20 » by **diablerouge** » Fri Dec 7, 2012 6:14 pm

tien - no one is questioning whether he can still score. the effort issues are still there when he goes for 30 and, no, the whole team is not dogging it like he does. no one jogs back on defense like d-wade, no one loses his man more often in the half court than d-wade.

this is dwyane now, he just wants to get through the season and turn it up a notch in april:
Ira Winderman ‏@IraHeatBeat
LeBron's angry, Spoelstra's angry, Bosh's angry. Wade not so much after another blowout loss to the Knicks.

this can also explain why spo doesn't give him 40 minutes anymore, he probably doesn't believe he can get sustained effort for that long.

perhaps it's not fair to dwayne but when we see lebron playing hard on both ends, taking efficient shots and then going for more work after the game... he'll look bad.