Wade’s long view from 3-point line
MIAMI Desperate times seemingly always have called for Dwyane Wade for the Miami Heat. But rarely have the Heat — or Wade — gone to such lengths for salvation.
In Saturday's 113-112 loss to the Charlotte Hornets at AmericanAirlines Arena, Wade attempted six 3-pointers — his high since his return last season — including four in the fourth-quarter rally from 26 down.
To his credit, Wade not only converted a pair in the final period, but chased down one of his misses and converted it into a game-tying layup with 12.3 seconds to play.
At 36, it is a new dimension from a player who has fashioned a Hall of Fame career with mid-range and point-blank scoring.
"With Dwyane, there's so many superlatives that you can say about him," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But his ability to reinvent and adapt and stay ahead of the league, really, in my mind, might be almost unparalleled for a player of his caliber, who came in as just a force of nature, with his athleticism.
"And this is something that he's been working on. He won't shoot as many threes as Wayne [Ellington], but he'll shoot enough. He's coordinated enough. When he puts his mind to something, he'll improve."
Wade closed 2 of 6 from beyond the arc, instantly aware of how wayward his final attempt was with 13.7 seconds to play.
"I knew exactly where it was going," he said of lone offensive rebound of the night. "I know where I missed. So I shoot enough that I know where my shots miss. So when I shot, I knew where it was missing. I just so happened to get there as they were battling for the rebound."
The McGruder Show: Forced into the lineup due to the injuries of Justise Winslow, James Johnson and Dion Waiters, Rodney McGruder closed out the first week of the season averaging 15.7 points on .500 shooting, including 9 of 18 on 3-pointers, as well as 7 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
"Incredible," Wade said. "I wasn't here when he first got here, but everything I hear from the guys, he has made leaps and bounds. It is his work ethic. He is an everyday guy like Spo says he is. He is kind of the ideal player for the Miami Heat.
"He doesn't say much. He works hard on both ends of the floor, and everyone loves him in here. To go out there and have the start of the season he is having, you are just happy for someone like that. We need him, especially with so many guys down — and he is stepping up."
McGruder closed Saturday's loss with his first career double-double, with 19 points (one off his career high set a game earlier in Washington) and a career-high 10 rebounds.
"He'll continue to improve," Spoelstra said. "He’ll look much different three or four months from now."
Close calls: The Heat's first three games have been decided by a total of five points, leaving them at 1-2 heading into Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks at AmericanAirlines Arena.
"We just have to figure out a way to win more than not," Wade said. "Last year we were in a lot of close games, probably the most in the NBA. You want to win at least five-to-10 more of those. I am not worried about this team's heart or effort, none of that. That is going to be there.
"You just want to figure out a way to come out with this kind of win so instead of having 43 wins, you end up having five to seven more of those and you're getting close to 50 wins. That is what we have to try and figure out."