How come Wade is athletic again?

[FrobeShaw]

He's had multiple moments this year that are prime Wade shit for some reason. He hasn't looked this athletic since 2011 at least.

[Smoke117]

He lost about 15 pounds. This off season was also the first real long rest he's gotten in awhile as the four previous seasons the Heat were in the finals.

[TaLvsCuaL]

roids :lol

[ISHGoat]

His jaw is swelling like a chipmunk

[Funktion]

Banana boat rides and Bron's connection.

[CelticBaller]

How else?

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Works out with Peyton Manning in the offseason.

[theaussieguy]

most players in the league are on PEDs and have been since coming into the league so lets nip these jokes in the bud right now. Its very likely hes just in a peak. When you decline its not a straight decline, there are peaks and troughs, at ur best you are near ur very best and at ur worse you are far worse than even a bad night in ur prime.

[AirFederer]

New training regimen:

https://media.giphy.com/media/EgkNhBeY289z2/giphy.gif

[Dresta]

He isn't, he just doesn't look like he's in constant pain on the court anymore - his knees are clearly still shot, as he can only get a little over the rim these days, despite the long wingspan. Losing weight has given him some quickness back, and he's still very quick changing directions off the dribble (and has a great first step), but i wouldn't call him 'athletic' at all.

[keep-itreal]

New training regimen:

https://media.giphy.com/media/EgkNhBeY289z2/giphy.gif
:roll:

[Dragonyeuw]

He isn't, he just doesn't look like he's in constant pain on the court anymore - his knees are clearly still shot, as he can only get a little over the rim these days, despite the long wingspan. Losing weight has given him some quickness back, and he's still very quick changing directions off the dribble (and has a great first step), but i wouldn't call him 'athletic' at all.

Wade never had a crazy vertical( not MJ/Vince level hops anyway), even in his athletic prime his wingspan accounted for alot of his famous posters. Athletically, as already said he's lost some weight which will counter the natural aging effect for the time being. He's actually better than I thought he'd be at this point, after 2014 I honestly thought his injuries would have impacted his game much worse and he'd be out of the league or role player status by 34/35. He had a really nice 'where'd that come from' ally-hoop last night against Indiana.

[Dr Hawk]

New training regimen:

https://media.giphy.com/media/EgkNhBeY289z2/giphy.gif

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Thunderfan86]

https://bitdsite.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/63264-gabrielle-union-imgur-a3ld.jpeg

[Nash]

Guyer Institute.

[AnaheimLakers24]

No 2/6 ball hog around

[Papaya Petee]

Cause he's a beast!

Missed only 1 game so far this season and that's due to a family emergency not his health.

[Stout]

New training regimen:

https://media.giphy.com/media/EgkNhBeY289z2/giphy.gif
:oldlol:

[Dresta]

Wade never had a crazy vertical( not MJ/Vince level hops anyway), even in his athletic prime his wingspan accounted for alot of his famous posters. Athletically, as already said he's lost some weight which will counter the natural aging effect for the time being. He's actually better than I thought he'd be at this point, after 2014 I honestly thought his injuries would have impacted his game much worse and he'd be out of the league or role player status by 34/35. He had a really nice 'where'd that come from' ally-hoop last night against Indiana.
Maybe not his "max" vert, but he was incredibly explosive around the basket, and could elevate explosively from a standstill - he's not got any of that any more, like, at all.

[Wade's Rings]

He's had multiple moments this year that are prime Wade shit for some reason. He hasn't looked this athletic since 2011 at least.

:kobe:

He looked this athletic in '12 & '13.

[riseagainst]

New training regimen:

https://media.giphy.com/media/EgkNhBeY289z2/giphy.gif


:lol
:roll:

[Dragonyeuw]

Maybe not his "max" vert, but he was incredibly explosive around the basket, and could elevate explosively from a standstill - he's not got any of that any more, like, at all.

Oh yeah, definitely explosive. I'm just saying purely in terms of verticals in the history of the league, he's not on that list. But body control-wise, he's up there with the best.

[HylianNightmare]

https://bitdsite.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/63264-gabrielle-union-imgur-a3ld.jpeg
Yum

[WayOfWade]

Wade was getting up again tonight against the Suns with some monster dunks

http://www.nba.com/video/games/suns/2016/01/09/0021500547-mia-phx-dwade-dunk.nba/index.html

The dude is playing fantastic, I read recently that for the first time in a long time, he has no actual pain in his knee

[DoctorP]

Lost weight. Better diet. He looks like how he used to look before he put on muscle.

[Milbuck]

https://bitdsite.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/63264-gabrielle-union-imgur-a3ld.jpeg
quoting because

[theaussieguy]

Maybe not his "max" vert, but he was incredibly explosive around the basket, and could elevate explosively from a standstill - he's not got any of that any more, like, at all.

yup, he might not have had the highest vertical (it was still at least 37.5inches in his prime IMO) he was able to get off the floor so effortlessly, his dunks all looked so smooth. That was the difference maker in his case and why he drew comparisons to Jordan despite his vertical leap (mind you not Westbrook poverty vertical).

[GrapeApe]

This is the best he's looked physically since the win streak in 2013. Aside from the explosion he's regained, what stands out most is the change of direction. He's made moves this year that were reminiscent of 2005-2011.

It's amazing how the weight loss has revitalized his game. It also has taken pressure off his knees, which imo is a major factor in his good health this season. He didn't need the extra muscle, as he was always strong.

[Foster5k]

LeBron: "Lose weight Wade!"

Wade: "NO!"

LeBron: Fine, I"m going to Cleveland."

Wade: "Wait, I'll go on a diet."

LeBron: "Too late, bye."

[sammichoffate]

https://vine.co/v/ihPZ15vDQLh
:biggums:

[GrapeApe]

https://vine.co/v/ihPZ15vDQLh
:biggums:

:bowdown:

[Smoke117]

https://vine.co/v/ihPZ15vDQLh
:biggums:

Wade's length has always been understated for whatever reason...he has a 6'10 " wingspan for his 6'4" frame and length is one of those attributes that helps make up for your failing quickness, speed, and hops later on.

[dhsilv]

Wade's length has always been understated for whatever reason...he has a 6'10 " wingspan for his 6'4" frame and length is one of those attributes that helps make up for your failing quickness, speed, and hops later on.

Helps you play defense to a degree, but look at the likes of vince carter.

[GrapeApe]

Wade's length has always been understated for whatever reason...he has a 6'10 " wingspan for his 6'4" frame and length is one of those attributes that helps make up for your failing quickness, speed, and hops later on.

No doubt, and an argument can be made that wingspan / length is a more relevant measurement than height. Even at 6'4, when you factor in Wade's wingspan (and strength), he's a big SG. You don't see many 34 year old 6'4 players throwing down alley oop's, put back dunks, or making explosive spin move dunks. Wade doesn't jump as high as he once did, but his length allows him to still play above the rim.

[VengefulAngel]

No doubt, and an argument can be made that wingspan / length is a more relevant measurement than height. Even at 6'4, when you factor in Wade's wingspan (and strength), he's a big SG. You don't see many 34 year old 6'4 players throwing down alley oop's, put back dunks, or making explosive spin move dunks. Wade doesn't jump as high as he once did, but his length allows him to still play above the rim.

This post hits the nail on the head.

[Dr Hawk]

https://vine.co/v/ihPZ15vDQLh
:biggums:

That's some prime Wade right there

[ShaqTwizzle]

https://vine.co/v/ihPZ15vDQLh
:biggums:

Damn...
Wade in his Prime used to do plays like that regularly just at 5x faster speed.

[WadeStan]

Damn...
Wade in his Prime used to do plays like that regularly just at 5x faster speed.

Reminds me of that poster on Perkins + cabbage patch. One of his top 5 dunks of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUbQ2FMtaFI

[WayOfWade]

Reminds me of that poster on Perkins + cabbage patch. One of his top 5 dunks of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUbQ2FMtaFI
Dang, I remember this. That was Wade's last season of playing with true ferocity; we only see flashes of it now, but wow

[jrong]

Reminds me of that poster on Perkins + cabbage patch. One of his top 5 dunks of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUbQ2FMtaFI

Until I went back and watched that, I was ready to say this was the most athletic he had been since 2011, but just looking at that 2012 dunk you can see much more explosive it was, compared to his version of it last night. So what I will say instead is that, physically, this is the best Wade has looked in a long time.

The mystery is, if the highlight plays this season reflect his physical state, then why aren't his numbers better? Part of it is only playing 30 minutes per game, but this is the first non-LeBron year where he so far is not the unquestionable #1 on the team and the first year since he became a perennial all-star starter, where, in terms of his performance, he does not deserve to be one.

I haven't checked his jumpshot percentage vs. what it was last year, but I did wonder if a side effect of losing weight might be that it would throw off his outside shot. In 2009, the year when his jumpshot was generally regarded as most deadly, he was built like a tank. Fans of some other players have said that their jumpers were best in years when they were bulkier too. Possibly it's a center of gravity issue.

[MP.Trey]

LeBron's such a bad teammate that he even limits his teammates athleticism.

[GrapeApe]

Until I went back and watched that, I was ready to say this was the most athletic he had been since 2011, but just looking at that 2012 dunk you can see much more explosive it was, compared to his version of it last night. So what I will say instead is that, physically, this is the best Wade has looked in a long time.

The mystery is, if the highlight plays this season reflect his physical state, then why aren't his numbers better? Part of it is only playing 30 minutes per game, but this is the first non-LeBron year where he so far is not the unquestionable #1 on the team and the first year since he became a perennial all-star starter, where, in terms of his performance, he does not deserve to be one.

I haven't checked his jumpshot percentage vs. what it was last year, but I did wonder if a side effect of losing weight might be that it would throw off his outside shot. In 2009, the year when his jumpshot was generally regarded as most deadly, he was built like a tank. Fans of some other players have said that their jumpers were best in years when they were bulkier too. Possibly it's a center of gravity issue.

There's a few contextual things to consider in terms of his numbers this year. You already mentioned his minutes being down, but another factor is pace. The Heat play at the slowest pace in the league. Adjusted for league average pace, Wade is averaging about 21/5/5. His 22.04 PER is second only to Harden among SG's. He's also committing a career low turnovers (per-game, per-minute, and per-possession).

[Akhenaten]

Until I went back and watched that, I was ready to say this was the most athletic he had been since 2011, but just looking at that 2012 dunk you can see much more explosive it was

That was the 10-11 season.


one of my fave dunks from the 11-12 season.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Haskel45/waded_medium_zpsu2bx2rdi.gif

[TheBigVeto]

roids :lol

The only correct answer.

[miggyme1]

He isn't, he just doesn't look like he's in constant pain on the court anymore - his knees are clearly still shot, as he can only get a little over the rim these days, despite the long wingspan. Losing weight has given him some quickness back, and he's still very quick changing directions off the dribble (and has a great first step), but i wouldn't call him 'athletic' at all.



shot knees does not equal barely getting over the rim...shot knees means early retirement at his age.smh

barely getting over rim comes with age.knees look fine

[GrapeApe]

From last night's game at Charlotte.

https://youtu.be/_rdOB3hTma4

[WindmiLL]

He is noticeably leaner