He has this uncanny ability to get injured and then play spectacular basketball while hurt. Personally, I had never noticed it until the Heat's first round matchup with the Chicago Bulls when Wade injured his hip.
On defense he would hobble around and grimace, and then as soon as the Heat took possession of the ball he would sprint full speed, cut, spin, jump, hit a shot... then return to the defensive side of the court looking like he'd been shot.
It's all a show. I have no doubt that when Shaquille O'Neal landed on Wade's leg that it hurt like hell. Anytime a 350 pound man falls on you, it is not going to feel good. Wade, however, milks it, whether to further his legacy (hard to use "legacy" for a guy in his third season) or just in an attempt to lure the opposition into a false sense of security.
Whatever the hell the reason is, it's working.
The NBA Finals are where legends are made, and this year we are seeing a new one emerge even as we see a familiar one fade. For everything Dirk Nowitzki did for the Dallas Mavericks to get them to the NBA Finals, he is being seriously outshined by the Miami guard from Chicago.
So far in five Finals games Wade is averaging 34.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Twice he's scored over 40 points and in Game 3 had a Chamberlain-esque stat line of 42 points and 13 rebounds.
All this from a 6'3" (tops) guard.
Of course, all this brings with it the inevitable Jordan comparisons. But even Wade thinks these are unrealistic and unfair.
"There's never going to be another Michael Jordan, man."
Still, unlike a lot of the other errant MJ comparisons happily bandied about over the years by sportswriters with pages to fill, Wade at times actually does evoke memories of 23.
Last night he struggled mightily from the field but getting to the free throw line enough times to keep his team in the game. As color analyst Hubie Brown said, "Anytime you are having a bad night offensively, drive to the rim." Wade did just this and was able to keep the score close, and keep the Mavericks in foul trouble.
Then the fourth quarter started, and Wade couldn't miss a shot if he was forced to shoot lefty, blindfolded, and with a shotgun in his mouth.
It looked almost completely effortless. Dribble, drive, spin, jump shot, 2 points. Dribble, drive, lay it up, 2 points.
Then at the end of the fourth, with Adrian Griffin defending him perfectly, Wade was able to clear a little space thanks to his shoulder and bank in a 5 foot jumper with an impossible angle to send the game to overtime.
It was with 9.1 seconds left in OT that we saw the return of the Nowitzki sneer. Dirk gave the Mavericks a 100-99 lead, but really was there ever a doubt that Miami was still going to win?
Not on my part there wasn't.
When Miami inbounded the ball at half court it became a 1 on 5 drill as every Maverick on the court rushed at Wade at some point to try to stop him. Now in a moment like this Michael probably would have found a Steve Kerr or John Paxson standing all by themselves for a game winning shot. Wade, however, never even entertained the thought. Somehow, getting past five defenders and getting to the basket, Wade was able to draw a foul on Nowitzki with 1.9 seconds remaining. (A very suspect call since it was on Nowitzki, but complain all you want, Dallas fans - if it wasn't Dirk who fouled Wade ont that play, it was definitely someone else.)
Wade sank the first shot to tie it at 100. Then Josh Howard had a Chris Webber moment and called the Mavericks final timeout. This cost the Mavs a chance to inbound at half court should Wade sink the last free throw.
Wade of course sank the final free throw and 2 seconds and a Devin Harris heave later the Miami Heat were celebrating a 3-2 advantage heading back to Dallas, just one win shy of an NBA title.
Josh Howard, Avery Johnson, and the rest of the Mavericks can argue the timeout call forever if they want. Howard can maintain his stance that he was looking at Avery and asking if he wanted a timeout, but the truth is when you're asking your coach if he wants one you don't make the hand gesture and then immediately start walking to your bench, which is exactly what Howard did.
Back to DWade.
After his Game 5 performance more MJ comparisons are sure to come, but it's still incredibly unfair. Wade had decent games in Games 1 and 2, but his team lost both, and Wade never really controlled a game.
The biggest difference thus far between Wade and Jordan was that Jordan was able to go on the road in an NBA Finals game, and still dominate the opposition. Just look at the fact that the Bulls celebrated the majority of their championships on the road; in Los Angeles, in Phoenix, in Seattle, in Salt Lake City.
If Dwyane Wade can go into Dallas and single handedly carry the Miami Heat to it's first ever NBA Championship, then and only then will all the Jordan comparisons carry any weight.
If Wade fails then he's just another in a long line of MJ wannabe's and s'posedtabe's.
Wade of course sank the final free throw and 2 seconds and a Devin Harris heave later the Miami Heat were celebrating a 3-2 advantage heading back to Dallas, just one win shy of an NBA title.
Josh Howard, Avery Johnson, and the rest of the Mavericks can argue the timeout call forever if they want. Howard can maintain his stance that he was looking at Avery and asking if he wanted a timeout, but the truth is when you're asking your coach if he wants one you don't make the hand gesture and then immediately start walking to your bench, which is exactly what Howard did.
Back to DWade.
After his Game 5 performance more MJ comparisons are sure to come, but it's still incredibly unfair. Wade had decent games in Games 1 and 2, but his team lost both, and Wade never really controlled a game.
The biggest difference thus far between Wade and Jordan was that Jordan was able to go on the road in an NBA Finals game, and still dominate the opposition. Just look at the fact that the Bulls celebrated the majority of their championships on the road; in Los Angeles, in Phoenix, in Seattle, in Salt Lake City.
If Dwyane Wade can go into Dallas and single handedly carry the Miami Heat to it's first ever NBA Championship, then and only then will all the Jordan comparisons carry any weight.
If Wade fails then he's just another in a long line of MJ wannabe's and s'posedtabe's.
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