Last Sunday, after the Heat's team practice at Temple University, 36-year-old Dwyane Wade sat alone and wrapped his knee in ice. Rather than this quasi-Hall of Fame veteran, media reporters wanted to find out why Hassan Whiteside didn't play much playing time in the first game of the playoffs, and how he would improve the team's offensive and defensive tactics in the second game.
Wade only played 19 minutes in the first game. Even in the playoffs, it was only a drop in the ocean of his career. For the Heat, compared to his real contribution on the field, the late Wade seemed to only be able to provide mental strength. Strength and support are no longer the pillars of support in Nanwan.
Heat legends Alonzo Mourning and Juwan Howard walked up to Wade to chat. Wade will become an integral part of the Heat like them in the future. Wade's meaning is even greater and has more spiritual indicators. Even though the signboard was big, his attitude was still very low-key. When Wade was asked why he bandaged and iced himself instead of asking several trainers around him to help, Wade simply said, "I like to do it myself."
That's right, not just dressing, but everything on the court, Wade likes to do it himself.
This was the momentum Wade expressed when he faced the young and energetic 76ers in Game 2. The Heat desperately needed this win. Wade, who has won three championships for Miami, would naturally take on this battle over anyone else. . He played 26 minutes off the bench and scored 28 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, leading the Heat to a 113-103 victory and ending the Sixers' 17-game winning streak.
"Many people think that I am preparing to retire when I return to the Heat. They think that I can't play anymore. I want to prove that this is wrong." Wade said in an interview with ESPN that he would consider retiring in the summer or playing for the Heat. During the season, "I need time to think and consider every angle to make the best choice for me."
But Wade is sure that the only destination for returning to the NBA is the Heat. "Like Vince Carter, he can change teams every year. But I can't help it, so this makes things a little more complicated." But Wade has tried in the past few years. , first to the Bulls, and then to the Cavaliers, "I experienced a college tour." Wade joked, "It's like a child's parents don't want him to go abroad, but the child insists on going abroad, but the final destination is home. .”
And here at home, the Miami Heat have been eagerly anticipating the return of their hero. In Game 2, the Sixers led by 9 points in the first quarter, but Wade immediately reversed his momentum as soon as he came on the court, scoring 21 points in the last 15 minutes of the first half, more than the entire Sixers team's 20 points. And when the Sixers launched a 21-7 offensive in the fourth quarter, Wade came on the field in the last 5 minutes and made the following plays:
- Steal the ball from Dario Saric and then dunk in a row
- Find James Johnson on a freehand cut for a dunk
- After Goran Dragic missed a layup, he grabbed an offensive rebound and passed it to Dragic to score. With 2:25 left in the fourth quarter, the Heat led by 8 points and the Sixers had to call a timeout.
- In the last 47.9 seconds, Ben Simmons made a mid-range shot that sealed the victory and trash-talked Kevin Hart.
"This isDwyane Wade. Spoelstra said, "We have seen too many similar scenes. He will not be on fire for 40 minutes, but he will show the value of experience at critical moments, calm the young people, and lead the team to victory." Spoelstra believes that Wade's maturity It was the main reason why he broke out in the second game. "Every second he played, he showed his brilliance. His maturity in handling the ball, his ability to read the game and his decision-making. He could do his best in every game, and he was very helpful to his teammates." , he is a stabilizing force.”
Heat veteranUdonis HaslemHe is definitely one of the players who is most familiar with Wade. He believes that Wade is a star born for critical moments. "In the final quarter, thinking about his great achievements in his career, no one will want to be his opponent." Although Wade is not as fast as It matches his nickname "The Flash", but his superhero value is still leading the team. "He tells us to calm down and not get into head rush." Josh Richardson said, "When he gets the ball, the whole game seems to be... Getting into his rhythm, I hope to reach that level in the future."
According to ESPN statistics, Wade made 7 of 8 mid-range shots in Game 2. All 8 of his shots were faced by defenders, including the 6-foot-10 Simmons. "He's as tall as me. I don't know." How could he make those shots in front of Simmons." Tyler Johnson, "I think this is probably the experience gap. After playing in the league for so many years, he has never seen any kind of defense."
That night, any defense, any great player,Can't guard Dwyane Wade.
Further reading
Dwyane Wade Classic Battles Top 12
Udonis Haslem: I'm willing to sacrifice everything to win
