Dwyane Wade's Greatness

[Nitro]

Got this from a site who got this from another site, but anyway...

 

(This is for those who don't acknowledge the full extent of Wade's greatness. I'm trying to show you here what you have been fundamentally missing all this time. What I'm demonstrating is the progression of the player he is and always has been. Thus I begin before he even enters the NBA...)

 

* Records NCAA triple-double (very rare), 29/11/11, to lead Marquette to the Final Four over #1 Kentucky (previously on 26 game win-streak) in the regional finals.

 

1ST YEAR:

 

* Round 1, Game 1 2004 playoffs-- hits gamewinning shot in first ever playoff game.

* Round 1, Game 5 2004 playoffs-- (often forgotten)-- with less than one minute left and the score tied, hits 3pter to put Heat in front (The Heat would add a FT and win by 4).

* 2004 ECSFs-- averages team-leading 21 ppg in extending the Pacers (best regular season record in league) to 6 games after most expected a sweep

 

2ND YEAR:

 

* 2005 regular season-- expected to be Shaq's sidekick, leads team in scoring and averages 24/5/7. Shaq suffers thigh injury in March which he stated left him at about 30% for the playoffs (and he's never been the same since); Wade takes over team.

* 2005 playoffs Rd. 1-- averages 25/8/6/50% in a sweep of the Nets (joins Jordan and list of 4 other players who posted those numbers in a playoff series)

* 2005 ECSFs-- averages 31/8/7 against Wizards; Shaq sits out half of series.

* 2005 ECFs-- after defending champion Pistons held him to 15 pts in Game, he drops 40, 36, and 28 on them in the next 3 games.

* -----INJURY----- (torn abdominal), Game 5 2005 ECFs, Heat, ahead 3-2, lose series 4-3. (1st major career what-if: what if Wade never gets hurt and collects his first Finals MVP one year ahead in 2005?)

 

3RD YEAR:

 

* 2006 regular season-- now the clear first option, averages 27/6/7.

* 2006 ECFs-- averages 26 ppg on 62% shooting.

* 2006 Finals-- averages 35 ppg in comeback series win after Heat down 0-2 and trailed by 13 with 6 mins left in 4th quarter of Game 3; in Games 3-6, averages 39 ppg.

 

4TH YEAR:

 

* 2007 regular season-- with Shaq missing the first half of the season, Wade with Jason Kapono as a 2nd option (seriously) averages 29/5/8 through the all-star break keeping the Heat afloat.

* -----INJURY---- (torn shoulder), 1st game after 2007 ASG, Wade rushes back prematurely in time for playoffs and thus never heals until after his 5th year (2nd major career what-if: what if Wade stayed healthy after Shaq returned-- League MVP? Heat repeat?)

 

SUMMER BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH YEAR:

 

* 2008 Olympics-- after his selection was questioned, leads team in scoring overall and also in gold medal game.

 

6TH YEAR:

 

* 2009 regular season-- leads a lineup of rookies, role players, and washed-up vets to the #5 seed, leading the league in scoring, averaging 30/5/8, and setting career-highs in points, assists, and blocks; after the break, posts averages of 33/5/8.

 

7TH YEAR

 

* 2010 regular season-- though his stats were down from 2009, leads an unimproved Heat team to 47 wins, four more than 2009.

* 2010 playoffs, round 1-- though the Heat lost in 5 games because none of his teammates averaged more than 11 ppg, Wade himself averaged 33 on 56% shooting against the team who went to Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

 

Now my question for those who relish being Wade-detractors (and you know who you are) is... can you really hate on this list? When it's laid out for you like this, can you seriously deny any longer that he is a historically special player?

 

Whenever healthy, Wade has always been THIS PLAYER-- every bit as dominant as Kobe, LeBron, or almost any other perimeter player in history. The same guy who destroyed Marquette is the same one who destroyed Detroit (twice), Dallas, and Boston (at least individually). The same guy who hit the winning shot in his first and fifth ever playoff game is the same guy who carried Shaq and the rest of his team through the 2005 postseason and carried them to a title in 2006 and the same guy who averaged 29/5/8 through 50 games in 2007 and the same guy who was the best player in the Olympics and the same guy who terrorized the NBA during the 2009 regular season and the same guy who, at least by himself, torched the NBA's best defense in the 2010 playoffs.... THAT is who Dwyane Wade is...

 

Just saying :glasses:

[Poe]

....and Wade/LeBron does not equal Kobe/Shaq, apparently.

 

 

 

Nice find, btw.

[Lkr]

....and Wade/LeBron does not equal Kobe/Shaq, apparently.

 

 

 

Nice find, btw.

fo realz?

[Guru]

....and Wade/LeBron does not equal Kobe/Shaq, apparently.

Hahahaha that is so off topic I don't even know what to say.

[Poe]

Whenever healthy, Wade has always been THIS PLAYER-- every bit as dominant as Kobe, LeBron

[EastCoastNiner]

All I see are excuses for having rookies and players like Jason Kapono to make him look better. He's a great player, but he's never been on nor will be on Kobe's level.

[Poe]

All I see are excuses for having rookies and players like Jason Kapono to make him look better. He's a great player, but he's never been on nor will be on Kobe's level.

 

He's not as good as Kobe, but he's in the same ballpark.

[Nitro]

All I see are excuses for having rookies and players like Jason Kapono to make him look better.

 

Then you clearly missed the entire bulk of the post.

 

And Laker fans ALWAYS use excuses like that to prop up Kobe, from Shaq's defense/poor FT shooting during the first 3-peat, to his crappy teammates after Shaq left town, and more recently blasting Fisher's defense/Artest's offense/crappy bench. So please...

 

He's a great player, but he's never been on nor will be on Kobe's level.

 

Why? What makes Kobe on a totally different level from Wade? Whether you or I believe Kobe is better or not is irrelevant as the point is the difference is very minimal. Wade scores as much on better efficiency, passes better with a better AST:TO ratio (in recent years), rebounds at a comparable rate, gets more blocks/steals (yes, I am aware this doesn't prove or disprove who the better defender is), and has proven to be a prime clutch player and leader. For their careers, Wade averages more points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, and shoots a better percentage from both the field AND 3 in the post-season. Wade is also a champion.

 

So why is Kobe on a different level? Because he can shoot a left-handed 3? Because he averaged 35PPG on 27+ shot attempts?

 

Listen, I agree that Kobe is probably the better player (although at this point in their careers, it's arguable), but they've been on the same level since 2006ish. When it's all said an done MJ, Kobe and Wade will likely be known as the 3 greatest SG's of all-time.

[Force]

* Round 1, Game 1 2004 playoffs-- hits gamewinning shot in first ever playoff game.

 

I was at that game...that 04 team with Butler, Odom, and Wade trio was nice as hell to watch.

[Flash]

* Round 1, Game 1 2004 playoffs-- hits gamewinning shot in first ever playoff game.

 

I was at that game...that 04 team with Butler, Odom, and Wade trio was nice as hell to watch.

 

I was there too for that game. That was the most fun team to watch down the stretch of that season and then in the playoffs.

[SRV]

There is no doubt that when he gets to the playoffs with a good team, he does work. People just fail to realize that because it has been a while since he has been on a good team that got to the playoffs. I expect big things from him in the playoffs this year, somewhere where Bosh isn't proven, and Lebron always fails, but Wade is experienced with the big games. Thats where he will shine, and it is no question he will be taking the big shot.

[Check my Stats]

LeBron has still been better. LeBron took a team probably as [expletive]ty as the Heat this year, if not moreso, to the NBA championship finals.

 

Wade is sick, but LeBron is/was >.

 

I really don't think anyone is sleeping on Wade's dominance, he is basically a consensus top 3 player, with the gap after the 3 being recognizable, what more does a Heat/Wade fan want?

Edited October 8, 2010 by travesy3

[Clutch]

man, that 2005 season ALWAYS bugs me, because deep down i felt if completely healthy miami would've won against the spurs

[Real Deal]

I really don't think anyone is sleeping on Wade's dominance, he is basically a consensus top 3 player, with the gap after the 3 being recognizable, what more does a Heat/Wade fan want?

1) Wade

2) LeBron

3) Bosh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) Durant

5) Kobe

 

Something along those lines.

[Flash]

1) Wade

2) LeBron

3) Bosh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) Durant

5) Kobe

 

Something along those lines.

 

http://www.gogaminggiant.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/facepalm.jpg

 

Seriously dude?

[Real Deal]

Seriously dude?

I'm not the one that has a "Dynasty in the Making" signature of the Big Three, despite them playing just three total minutes together.

 

[alcstarheel]

Anyone that hasn't recognized Wade's great career so far is an idiot.

 

I think in the minds of most he is placed exactly where he should be .. slightly behind Kob as best SG for a couple of years until he takes the lead at that position.