Post#65 » by jagz » Sat Jan 31, 2015 3:13 pm
It's a tough situation because when he's in the lineup, Wade is still easily the best player on the team. He'd be the best player on most teams. And the notion of him accepting a reduced role won't work, because when you need someone to make plays during critical stages of games, you've got to go with the best option to make them. That's Wade, whether he makes them for himself or teammates. In the 4th quarter or other key stretches, when you need a score, the ball finds its way to Wade, not because the Heat are overburdening him, but because he's their best chance.
And this is going to happen just by virtue of him being on the court. It certainly seemed like the Heat started the year planning to ride Bosh. That was the media narrative, and Bosh ate it up too, but in the beginning, it also appeared that Miami intended Bosh to be the focal point. But, that was never gonna hold. Wade is just better, by light years.
With a LeBron James on the roster, you can move Wade off-ball. You'll greatly reduce his superstar quotient because he won't be in his comfort zone in terms of in-game rhythm, having his preferred offensive sets run, getting to his sweet spots on the floor etc. But, he could rely on his all-around game to manage to produce at 60 to 70 percent of his maximum capacity and with an LBJ, that was often enough. However, besides LeBron, there are few players to whom Wade should justifiably defer, and none of them will be available until 2016.
All that said, Wade simply can't sustain Wade-like play for long stretches anymore. His season performance is a macrocosm of his game performances over the last few years. Just as he can brilliant for a quarter or maybe a half but can't usually keep it going over an entire game anymore, he can now only do it for a month or two during a season.
So what is the answer? Panic caused the Heat to blow the bank on Bosh (if this is the best you're gonna get out of CB in year 1 of that 5 year, 120 M deal, enjoy paying him through 2019). Maybe Whiteside? Dwight Howard has no offensive skills, and he got to the Finals as a centerpiece. So maybe surround Hassan with three point-shooters and defenders, keep Wade partly out of loyalty and partly to see what he has left, and hold a fire sale on everything else, including Bosh, buying him out if necessary? Even with no meniscus or knee cartilage, Wade will always be able to facilitate, and building around Whiteside could extend his career.
