Wade: Cavs’ woes much like ’13-14 Heat
MIAMI — Dwyane Wade is comparing the Cleveland Cavaliers’ struggles early this season to the final year of the Big Three in Miami. — a time he compared to a “bad marriage.”
Entering Friday’s game at Washington, the Cavaliers had lost four in a row to drop to 3-5 in a weak Eastern Conference. But Wade, who joined Cleveland last month after he and Bulls agreed to a buyout, said it was “worse” in Miami in 2013-14.
“As a team, we were kind of like this,” Wade told reporters in Cleveland. “It was worse because it wasn’t new guys. It was guys who had been around each other four years in a row. Your jokes weren’t funny anymore to other guys. When you walked in, it wasn’t a big smile no more. Guys were just over you.
“It’s like being in a bad marriage. But we somehow made it to the Finals.”
Miami started 4-3 that season, but righted itself and advanced to the Finals for the fourth consecutive season before being dominated by San Antonio in five games.
But Wade said Miami should have lost to Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals, which the Heat won in six games.
“We had a mental edge over those guys, and we were able to win,” Wade said. “But we shouldn’t have been there. So it’s tough, definitely. That’s why it hasn’t been done a lot.”
LeBron James returned to Cleveland that summer and then Wade left Miami for Chicago two years later. The two have reunited in Cleveland this year, hoping to rekindle the spark that led to two titles in Miami.
Wade’s struggles have mirrored his team’s. In seven games, he is averaging 7.7 points on just 41.4 percent shooting. He took to social media for what he called one of those “what’s on your mind videos” to talk about the start.
“I’ve seen a lot lately, because of the struggles of our team and the struggle of my play, trying to figure out my role,” he said. “A lot of people saying, ‘He’s going to get back to 20 points ...’
“I just want you guys to understand this, I’m here to help this team in whatever capacity I can from a veteran standpoint, from a second-unit standpoint and I’m trying to figure that out ... and we’re trying to figure that out together.”
After saying he appreciates the support, he added that the 20 points a game won’t happen.
“I came here to the Cavs to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. We’re trying to figure it out as a team, I’m trying to figure it out as an individual and it will get better, I will get better. I see you guys, I hear you guys, I get it. Also understand the role here is different.”
Crotty to move to TV: John Crotty will become the Heat’s next analyst for all TV broadcasts beginning next season, the team announced Friday. Crotty, 48, will work alongside play-by-play broadcaster Eric Reid, replacing longtime analyst Tony Fiorentino.
Crotty, who played 48 games for the Heat in 199697, has been a member of the broadcast team since January 2005 when he became the Heat’s radio analyst. He will become the seventh person to serve as the TV analyst for the franchise and the second former player.
“It’s truly an honor to have such a lengthy history with the Miami Heat; first as a player, then as a radio broadcaster and now as the TV color analyst,” Crotty said in a statement. He went on to say that he is “humbled by the big shoes I have to fill, but very excited to take on the challenge.”
Crotty played for seven franchises in his 11 years in the NBA. In Miami, he averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 assists while serving as Tim Hardaway’s backup.
Crotty first appeared for the Heat on television during the 2006 championship season, when he was added to the team’s postseason coverage. Since the spring of 2012 has served as a studio analyst for all Heat home and road games. In addition to his work with the Heat, Crotty has also served as a color analyst on college basketball games for Fox.
“John has been part of the Heat family for many years, and has earned this opportunity,” said Eric Woolworth, president of the Heat’s business operations. “We are thrilled to have him on board as our color analyst and excited about the future of our broadcasts on Fox Sports Sun. We have every confidence that John is going to do a great job.”
The Heat have seen six former players, coaches and broadcasters serve in this role. Crotty joins a group that includes Reid (the team’s first TV analyst), Dave Wohl, Jack Ramsay, Ed Pinckney, Mike Fratello, and Fiorentino.
The Heat announced in June that this would be Fiorentino’s final season in a role he held for 14 years.
The team has not announced plans to fill Crotty’s current role on radio.