Miami Heat: Chris Bosh Has Given the Team Confidence Since Dwyane Wade’s Injury
Although he stands at 6’11″ and weighs in at more than 230 lbs, Chris Bosh is undoubtedly the smallest member of the Miami Heat‘s power trio.
Bosh is one of the game’s premier big men, but he has always been regarded as the “other” star of the Big Three. His status around the league pales in comparison to his superstar teammates, as he trails LeBron James in MVPs (2) and Dwyane Wade in championship rings (1).
Perhaps people overlook the fact that Chris is the best third option in the league, for he has endured a myriad of criticism and is often the focal point of trade speculation involving the Heat.
Facing a great deal of negative feedback is never good for a player’s confidence, but I feel that Bosh has responded well and he is currently in the process of silencing his critics. Whilst many players began the year out of shape, Bosh spent the extended offseason bulking up, and the six-time All-Star has returned to the league as a better player and a humbled man.
His stellar play this year, particularly in the absence of Dwyane Wade, is a big reason why Miami are currently sitting second in the Eastern Conference with an impressive 13-5 record. And while Wade’s health is small cause for concern, Bosh’s level of production should give the Miami Heat and their fans confidence going forward.
Wade’s absence is due to an ankle injury that has caused him to miss a total of nine games this year. Interestingly, Miami is 8-1 without Wade in the starting lineup. In the nine games that he has played, the Heat are a mediocre 5-4. How is it possible that the Heat are faring better without Wade? I accredit the difference to Chris Bosh and LeBron James, who have both stepped up their level of play while Wade watches from the sidelines.
I gathered these statistics from http://www.basketball-reference.com/:
Bosh with Wade in the Lineup:
17.7 PPG, 49.6 FG%, 8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1 BPG
Bosh without Wade in the Lineup:
25.7 PPG, 59.1 FG%, 7.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.8 BPG
As you can see, Bosh is significantly more efficient scoring the ball when Dwyane Wade does not play. This is a great sign for Miami, because it shows that he is willing to step up and is capable of playing a versatile role within the offense. In the one game that both LeBron and Wade did not play, Bosh recorded his best performance of the season, proving that he can carry the offensive load. In a road game against the Atlanta Hawks, he scored 33 points, pulled down 14 boards and passed for five assists in the 116-109 victory. The game went to triple overtime, with Bosh hitting several big shots down the stretch.
Contrary to popular belief, Miami’s 8-1 record without Dwyane Wade does not prove that they are a better team when he sits. It does, however, prove that Chris Bosh needs an expanded role on the offensive end. It’s clear that they play their best when the Big Three are firing on all cylinders—and right now, Bosh has given the Miami faithful something to feel good about.
This season the Heat are 11-1 when Bosh shoots over 50 percent from the floor. This is a clear indication that he, not Wade or LeBron, holds the key. When he plays well, Miami usually come out on top. And if No. 1 plays his best deep into the playoffs, opposing teams should be fearful.
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Ankle sprain has Wade’s status unclear (AP)
Dwyane Wade is hurting. His team has lost three in a row. And the schedule is not going to provide any breaks any time soon. The season’s first official rough patch has arrived for the Miami Heat. Some Heat players hit the practice court on Sunday, Wade not among them. He was in the building, getting treatment on the right ankle he sprained in Friday’s loss to Denver — one of three lower body…
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Miami Heat Video: Watch Dwyane Wade’s Amazing Full-Court Pass to LeBron James
This just in: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are pretty good and play well together when paired on the same team.
In a related story, Captain Obvious likes to watch the Miami Heat.
The Heat slogged their way through a tough first-half against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, though, not without D-Wade and King James hooking up for a silky smooth, full-court pass-and-catch.
Any more hyphens and these two All-Stars would be attached at the hip.
Wade barely went baseline for the inbounds pass following a three-pointer from Arron Afflalo before heaving the ball down court to LeBron a la Brett Favre to Donald Driver back in the day.
And, like Driver, LeBron hauled in the ball and converted on an easy and-one opportunity.
Of course, this isn’t the first time these two barons of the round ball have made 96 feet of hardwood look so small. In fact, Bron Bron and Wade have even taken turns on the cross-court pitch-and-catch.
So, realistically, this play is hardly spectacular by Bron-to-Wade standards.
Still, there’s no denying how pretty it is watching these two superstars find each other on the court, distance be damned.
Unfortunately, the Heat lost the contest 117-104.
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Gabrielle Union: Dwyane Wade’s Beloved Hints at a Kardashian-Style Wedding
The possibility exists that hoops fans will be treated to another highly publicized, highly sophisticated and highly televised wedding in the near future.
The only difference is that this one would feature an actual NBA superstar.
The February issue of Essence is going to feature a piece on Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union, who have been dating for several years now. One topic that comes up is whether the two have any plans of getting married any time soon.
Wade says he and Union are not “rushing it.” They’ve both been married before, and Wade says that both of them “want it to be right” if they are to get married again.
As for what the possible wedding might be like, Union hinted at a dreadful possibility.
“When it happens, it’s going to be something that only our friends and family know about,” Union told Essence, per BlackSportsOnline.com. “That is, unless the E! Network comes up with right number.”
The reference to the E! Network is an obvious allusion to the marriage of Kim Kardashian and New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries back in August. The E! Network made a spectacle out of the whole thing, and there were reports about how the two actually got paid to get married.
Then they got divorced 72 days later, leaving many to cry shenanigans.
Before we go any further, we should clarify that Union is not saying that she and Wade are going to get married in the near future, and she’s not saying that their wedding will be on the E! Network.
But rest assured, if they were to come calling, the folks at the E! Network would listen. They know from experience that celebrity weddings involving NBAers are good for business. One starring a superstar like Wade would be even better for business.
All we can do is hope that it doesn’t come to this. The mind can only take so many televised wedding extravaganzas before it snaps.
Besides, D-Wade is better than this.
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Warriors win in OT, spoil Wade’s return (AP)
Dorell Wright had been off to a quiet start this season, reverting to the form that forced the Miami Heat to part ways with the forward and land LeBron James in July 2010. A visit from his former franchise provided the spark the Golden State Warriors have been waiting for. Wright scored 20 points and made a season-high six 3-pointers, including a tying shot late in regulation, and the short-handed…
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Why the Miami Heat Need to Be Concerned about Dwyane Wade’s Health
The Miami Heat have a lot to be concerned about with Dwyane Wade’s injury. They don’t need to go into panic mode, but they do need to be concerned. If, as it appears it might be, it is plantar fasciitis which is bothering him, that could be an injury which sidelines him for some time.
It’s an injury that kept Joakim Noah out for six weeks a couple of years ago.
It’s not an injury that you can play through, you need to rest it to get it better, and in this condensed season, that’s a lot of games that Wade would be missing.
Over six weeks Wade could potentially miss as many as 22 games, or one third of the season.
That’s going to have a compounded effect. While LeBron James and Chris Bosh are talented enough to keep the Heat in contention for the East’s top seed even with Wade missing a substantial amount of games, they’re going to have play more minutes to do so.
That’s going to catch up with them in the postseason. Those extra minutes in the already condensed schedule are going to wear down James and Bosh.
Additionally, this is the type of thing that can flare up again quickly even once it goes away.
Furthermore, it’s going to thin out a rotation that’s already shortened. Mike Miller and Eddy Curry are already missing from it and are still a couple of weeks away. Mario Chalmers might be missing some time with a shoulder injury.
Wade’s injury means an already thin bench gets even thinner.
None of these things are enough cause for the panic button. The most important thing for the Heat is to be healthy for the postseason. Yet there is real cause for concern here. The Heat can’t get Wade healthy soon enough.
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NBA Rumors: Why Dwyane Wade’s Injury Should Have Miami Heat Worried
NBA players suffer enough wear and tear in a regular 82-game season.
When the season is condensed and players have to play more games in less time, that can lead to a lot of injuries, as we have already started to see.
For the Miami Heat this is bad news considering they have a star in Dwyane Wade who has had injury problems in the past and now has sustained what appears to be a pretty significant injury.
Tweeted Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Monday:
Winderman also tweeted that Wade arrived to practice about 30 minutes after everyone else on Monday and had a noticeable limp.
This “dreaded plantar fasciitis” is the same dreaded plantar fasciitis that cost Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans 19 games last season. It may very well be that the only thing that prevents Wade and the Heat from capturing the title this season is Wade’s injury combined with the condensed schedule.
With Wade and LeBron James perfectly healthy, I honestly don’t think the Heat have anything to worry about. We’ve already seen how they’ve played so far this season when healthy.
But if Wade’s injury lingers throughout the season, the Heat have a big problem. Wade’s style of play will only further aggravate the injury if it isn’t close to 100 percent. He continually puts his body on the line for the sake of the team when driving to the basket and that isn’t going to change knowing the determined player he’s always been.
On top of this, it appears Wade is being looked at as the team’s closer this season, and we’ve already seen him make a game-winner (the in-bounds pass came from James). Perhaps James will get past his late-game woes that doomed the Heat in last year’s NBA Finals, but you can’t be sure of that. The fact of the matter is Wade is a better closer at this point.
Should the Heat be worried?
Absolutely.
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Dwyane Wade Injury: Latest Updates on Wade’s Foot Injury
Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is being called a game-time decision for the Heat’s game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
Tweeted Brian Windhorst of ESPN:
“Dwyane Wade did not take part in shootaround because of lingering foot contusion. Will be gametime decision vs. Pacers tonight.”
It’s worth noting that Wade has been receiving fewer minutes per game this season, which is a good idea considering the way he plays the game and the fact that he’s now 29 years old.
Wade has a reputation for slashing to the basket with reckless abandon and putting his body on the line for the sake of his team. But it can work both ways: It’s in the team’s best interest to have him in as many games as possible.
That’s why Wade’s foot injury should not be taken lightly. LeBron James may be the team’s best player, but Wade appears to be the chosen closer after James’ struggles late in games last season. Plus, he’s the team’s leader at point guard and, let’s not forget, he won an NBA championship before James and Chris Bosh ever came to Miami.
According to the Miami Herald, Wade and head coach Erik Spoelstra have both taken the hint, saying that rest is probably the best solution for his foot injury. Spoelstra hasn’t ruled out Wade against the Pacers, but there’s a good chance Wade could sit.
Obviously, the Heat would like to grab the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed this season, but it should not come at the expense of Wade. If the Heat lose Wade before the playoffs, it’s safe to say they won’t win the NBA title, LeBron James and all.
There’s also the issue of games being bunched up right now due to the shortened 66-game season. There is legitimate concern that it could come at the detriment of older players or injury-prone players.
Said Wade of his foot injury, via the Herald:
“I think the back-to-back the other day kind of hurt me and made it real sore. Probably as sore as it’s been, so at this moment it’s about taking time and being smart and seeing how my foot is going to feel.”
The Heat need to be extra careful with Wade this season.
Their season depends on it.
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Video: Dwyane Wade’s ‘TD pass’ to LeBron
In a day dominated by football, Lebron James and Dwyane Wade decided to join in on the New Years Day fun!
During a drubbing of the Charlotte Bobcats, Bron Bron and D-Wade got a chance to show off their football abilities. After winning a fairly typical jump ball, Wade corralled the rock and immediately heaved a full court pass to a streaking James for another highlight score. The court awareness and breakaway speed that these two have is truly unbelievable. Miami is looking unstoppable early in this 2012 season.
It’s good to have the NBA back with the football season wrapping up.
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Wade’s late baskets keep Heat unbeaten (AP)
LeBron James has always put up big numbers when he comes to Target Center to play the Minnesota Timberwolves. And he rarely has to break a sweat — or play in the fourth quarter — to do it. Now that Ricky Rubio is running the point and Rick Adelman is calling the shots for the Timberwolves, James and the rest of the NBA are going to have to work for everything they get when they come to town.
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