Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“We’ve got to do a good job of making sure me and Chris have our opportunities to succeed throughout the game,” Wade said. “That’s something we’re going to have to look at as a team.”
[…] “We’ve got guys individually who want to play better,” Wade said. “But we’ve got to try to help each other out in this locker room and not leave it up to the individual to self-will it.”Following the game, James tried to explain this shift in strategy.
“I mean, we can state the obvious; they’re both struggling,” James said of Wade and Bosh. “When you’re struggling, the best thing to get is a layup or a dunk. [Wade] missed a couple of them … Chris is struggling with his shot and him hurting his ankle didn’t help.”
ESPN: Dwyane Wade wants a bigger role
On a day where no Celtics news exists, it’s fun to take a quick peek into the NBA playoffs and see that our good friends down in Miami are getting along so swimmingly.
With Wade dealing with a bone bruise in his right knee and Chris Bosh dealing with a sore ankle, the Heat have gotten almost all of their offense from LeBron. In fact, LeBron has scored 387 points in the playoffs so far… while Wade and Bosh have combined for 378. Bosh has scored 19 points in his last 3 games combined.
But it’s Wade, more than anyone, making waves right now. And here’s why:
He averaged 15 shots and 16.8 points over the first four games of the Eastern Conference finals. He has gotten a total of 19 shots and scored a total of 20 points in the past two games. Wade was 3 of 11 for 10 points in Game 6.
As we head into tonight’s Game 7, the Heat are facing a very real possibility of becoming the Cavs, an image LeBron already invoked when he said he want back to his “Cleveland days” after willing Miami to a Game 5 win. LeBron is trying to do it all himself because he feels like he has to.
Meanwhile, Wade, especially, is sitting there thinking “you realize I’m still Dwyane Wade, and not Sasha Pavlovic, right?” That sets up an interesting possibility of Wade sabotaging the Heat’s chances for a repeat by trying to prove to everyone that he should be getting more shots by taking ill-advised ones. I mean, do you honestly think Dwyane Wade is going to sit there and watch someone else carry his franchise, the one he’s played for his whole NBA life, in a suddenly desperate Game 7 at home? You think he’s really going to play some bit part in LeBron’s summer blockbuster?
The Heat might win this game tonight. But they might lose. That’s a very real possibility which was inconceivable a few weeks ago. And even if they do win tonight, that sets them up for a serious challenge in the Spurs, who are waiting, resting, and drawing up game plans to take advantage of the hobbled and bickering Heat.
This is why the Celtics Big 3 worked as long as it did. Because the older Celtics stars all knew they needed each other to get the rings they so desperately wanted. Because they all understood how to sacrifice. The Heat stars are too young to do it the same way. And even in Boston, hurt feelings got in the way and broke things up. But it took a long time to happen here.
Questions about Miami’s long-term viability are already creeping up. If they lose tonight, get ready for an offseason full of “should we break this up?” talk from Miami. Chris Bosh makes the exact same amount of money LeBron makes. And Wade makes a tiny bit less. They all account for nearly $60 million of Miami’s $86 million payroll next season. So decisions will have to be made at some point soon about that team. Bickering…. and a loss tonight… could accelerate them.
I wonder what Ray Allen is thinking right now.
The rest of the links:
ESPN: Hibbert fined $75,000 for gay slur, profanity
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
