Wade: Playing big can produce big results
Guard remembers success with Shaq, Mourning in 2006
MIAMI — He ran to a championship with Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning in 2006, at the height of his Flash persona. At other times his initial Miami Heat tenure included playing off the post play of Jermaine O’Neal and Hassan Whiteside.
And then Dwyane Wade spent a season and a half learning how the other side lived, the his lone year with the Chicago Bulls featuring the limited inside game of Robin Lopez and the start of this season playing with a Cleveland Cavaliers that preferred Kevin Love masquerading as a middle man.
It is why Wade said amid this back-to-back set of games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies that he sees big possibilities in this Heat reunion, citing the unique powered-squared approach available with both Whiteside and emerging rookie Bam Adebayo.
“When you got bigs like Hassan and you got bigs like Bam rolling to the basket, when they’re setting screens, you’re going to get into the paint,” Wade said of the Heat’s attacking style with their perimeter players. “Either all the way to the rim, some guys floaters, some guys pull-ups and lobs.
“Me, especially, I’m just getting back comfortable with it.”
Wade said the hope is it brings some of the Flash slash back to his game.
“It’s kind of something that I was used to a few years ago,” he said, having left the Heat in 2016 free agency before this return two weeks ago at the NBA trading deadline. “I haven’t been in that position to have bigs like that, so it’s definitely a positive for us that we continue to keep getting into the paint.”
Unique opponent
How unique was Anthony Davis‘ performance in the Pelicans’ 124-123 overtime victory over the Heat on Friday night in New Orleans?
According to Elias Sports Bureau, with his 45 points, 17 rebounds, five steals and five blocks, Davis now stands as the only player in NBA history to produce at least 40 points, 15 rebounds, five steals and five blocks in the same game. The caveat is the NBA did not formally begin tracking steals and blocked shots until 1973-74.
Davis’ 45 points were the most against the Heat this season, with his five blocks tying for the most by an opponent this season and his five steals one shy of the high against the Heat.
“He is special,” Wade said, “there is no question about that. I think everybody in New Orleans and everyone in the basketball world knows that he is special. The only thing we can do is try and make it tough on him, but if you try and make it tough on him, he still is going to get 40 points.”
Johnson versatility
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he was encouraged by James Johnson‘s aggressive close to Friday’s loss after an uneven start.
“We want James being aggressive and then finding that balance where he can facilitate for us,” Spoelstra said. “He is one of our better creators. He gets our guys open shots. So that’s not an easy thing to manage every single game, because you don’t want to just get caught trying to generate looks for other guys. Once the defense starts to sniff that out, then if you’re not a live option, they treat you as such. So, he was able to bounce back and have an impact after not seeing the ball go in.” ...
Spoelstra said his big men being more effective away from the basket has made them more effective in the paint.
“The level of detail with our screening, rolling, sealing is steadily improving and our guards are doing a better job of finding our bigs at the rim,” he said. “It’s not direct post-ups that we’re running. It’s from movement, pick-and-rolls and finding ‘em under the basket.”