Miami Heat is still Wade's team, and always will be...

[Heat007]

He must continue to be the primary ball handler in 4th quarters, as he's been doing for the most part since the losing streak when they lost a lot of close games at the end (when he wasn't the primary ball handler. The Heat are at their best in 4th quarters when Wade is the primary ball handler with LeBron working well off the ball (and believe it or not LeBron has been very good working off the ball this year - something he never or rarely ever did in Cleveland)

Wade is controlling the ball late in games and James not only is letting him do it but is playing into the plan by setting screens to free his teammate up. Just a plain pick-and-roll -- but it can be brutal to handle if it is executed just right and everyone buys into it.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Wade have been gently trying to sell this to James for some time now, but it was understandably foreign to the two-time Most Valuable Player. He was used to getting the screens in crunch time and playing isolation, not setting the screens and waiting for a pass if it came his way.

Getting James to make changes to his game has always been a process, even when he was much younger and not so set in his ways. For example, it took two seasons of drilling under former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown for James to fully commit to playing defense, and he quickly became one of the better defenders in the league.

It is possible that failing in so many close games with the ball solely in his hands this season -- for which he felt compelled to apologize to his teammates -- may have convinced him to try something new. The early returns are helping.

“I think he's starting to see that this can open up his overall game, and he's going to want to do it more," Wade said last week, almost as a plea for James to continue to set those screens and let him control the ball.

It started in the Heat’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers, which began a run that is now seven wins in eight games. On that night, the Heat won a close game when Wade was at the controls for the stretch run, with James as wingman.

On Friday, Wade had 39 points, 18 in the fourth quarter as he used James and the threat of James to eviscerate the Sixers’ defense.

In another set the Heat have been rolling out, James will stand in the corner as Wade comes off a separate screen and forces James’ man to make a decision to stay home or help on one of the greatest drivers in the history of the game.

Eight different times the Heat ran a newer set against the Sixers, just fully installed in the last couple of weeks

While James and Wade were putting up huge numbers and forced the Sixers to make Sophie's Choice on defense, Bosh had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Further proof tonight.

[Hulk Hogan]

nigga is still a side-kick... deal with it.

[Glide2keva]

That was never in dispute in my mind. lebron is no leader. He's shown that year in and year out.

He doesn't have it in him.

[Kingwillball]

He must continue to be the primary ball handler in 4th quarters, as he's been doping for the most part since the losing streak when they lost a lot of close games at the end (when he wasn't the primary ball handler. The Heat are at their best in 4th quarters when Wade is the primary ball handler with LeBron working well off the ball (and believe it or not LeBron has been very good working off the ball this year - something he never or rarely ever did in Cleveland)




Further proof tonight.

It is his team cause he was there first Lebron better in almost every stat category. If Wade closes some games out in Playoffs and Leads Heat in Scoring than lets revisit it. Lebron was not focused tonight he thought he could just flip the switch when the Heat got down but than realized letting the Bucks hang around and couldn't finish them off. Lebron has not been clutch this yr I agree but before I completely turn on him I rather see how the Playoffs play out first. In my mind and many others he is still the best player in the League at least for the first 3 1/2 qtrs.

[Heat007]

It is his team cause he was there first Lebron better in almost every stat category. If Wade closes some games out in Playoffs and Leads Heat in Scoring than lets revisit it

It has nothing to do with who takes the final shot.

It has EVERYTHING to do with who is the primary BALL HANDLER in 4th quarters. The offense looks a lot better and more fluid when it's Wade Handling the ball on offense in 4th quarters this year.

That is indisputable.

McHale was SPOT ON when he said that Wade should be the primary ball handler in 4th quarters. Not just the final possession, but handling the ball for the FINAL 7 to 8 minutes of the 4th quarter. If Wade is handling the ball for most of the 4th quarter then the team won't be in a position to need a final shot, they will be further ahead instead of behind the 8-ball.

That's the point.

And it doesn't mean that LeBron can't handle the ball throughout a game in other sets/lineups earlier in games, it's just putting the ball in Wade's hands to orchestrate the offense for most of the 4th quarters... it's not rocket science.

[Kingwillball]

It has nothing to do with who takes the final shot.

It has EVERYTHING to do with who is the primary BALL HANDLER in 4th quarters. The offense looks a lot better and more fluid when it's Wade Handling the ball on offense in 4th quarters this year.

That is indisputable.

McHale was SPOT ON when he said that Wade should be the primary ball handler in 4th quarters.

That may be true but still doesn't mean its Wade's Team or he is the Leader AKA best player. Lebron is so versatile (big and Strong ) He sets some mean Picks with his body so it makes sense plus Wade does have a knack of slithering in the lane and drawing contact (and gets more calls than Lebron) because people just bounce off Lebron where Wade makes Sure Refs give him the calls when He knows he gets hit twists and flops his body to give them no choice than blow whistle. It is Weird though cause Lebron is the better passer and plays Point Forward most of the Game but than down stretch he shouldn't handle ball ? He can find open man no problem but usually the role players don't make the game winning shots.

[Micku]

It is Weird though cause Lebron is the better passer and plays Point Forward most of the Game but than down stretch he shouldn't handle ball ? He can find open man no problem but usually the role players don't make the game winning shots.

I just figure that he dominate the ball too much. Wade is better with going with the flow of the offense, which could be better in the 4th quarter. It may get more people involved in the offense.

But I dunno. We'll see.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Lebron is better offensively and defensively and Miami's first option. I'm not sure why this isn't clear yet. He averages more points and far more assists, scores more efficiently, shoots the ball better and has obviously had the better season defensively.

[Bigsmoke]

Lebron is better offensively and defensively and Miami's first option. I'm not sure why this isn't clear yet. He averages more points and far more assists, scores more efficiently, shoots the ball better and has obviously had the better season defensively.

this

[VishaltotheG]

LeBron > Wade for 90% of the game, therefore, LeBron > Wade.

LeBron leads scrubs to 60+ win seasons, Wade leads scrubs to mid-40s.

/thread

[Heat007]

I guess people forgot that Wade won a title as a primary ball handler in 4th quarters in the playoffs. And against Top defenses.

And should have won two titles as a primary ball handler late in games if he didn't get injured when they were up 3 games to 2 on Detroit in the 2005 conference finals.

So not only has Wade proven it before in the clutch, in BiG playoff games and playoff series when he took over 4th quarters as the main guy handling the ball orchestrating offenses, but he's proven it this year as the Heat have looked A LOT better AS A TEAM in regards to offensive flow when Wade is the primary ball handler in 4th quarters.

It's indisputable and can't be debated. It's been consistent all season when other teams tighten up their defense in the 4th.

And again, it has nothing to do with who takes the final shot, but AS A TEAM the Miami Heat as an offense look a lot more in-sync when Wade has handled the ball (that's all 5 guys on the floor looking better - including LeBron) in 4th quarters..

It's a chemistry thing.. and it's VERY CLEAR to anyone who has paid attention watching every game this season.

[DJmicah]

He must continue to be the primary ball handler in 4th quarters, as he's been doing for the most part since the losing streak when they lost a lot of close games at the end (when he wasn't the primary ball handler. The Heat are at their best in 4th quarters when Wade is the primary ball handler with LeBron working well off the ball (and believe it or not LeBron has been very good working off the ball this year - something he never or rarely ever did in Cleveland)




Further proof tonight.

we all already know this, but thanks anyway...

[elementally morale]

What I find interesting, is that such observations are usually made after losses.

[Heat007]

What I find interesting, is that such observations are usually made after losses.

Again, it's been "consistent " all year, well before the lakers game when Wade was the primary ball handler in 4th quarters. Read my posts.

Against Portland earlier in the season on the road, The Heat were down by 5 with about 3 minutes left. Wade is the primary ball handler for the most part and the offense looks so in sync., The Heat take it to OT and win it convincingly with Wade as the primary ball handler throughout the end of the game through Overtime.

Against Portland in the last game at Home. LeBron is the primary ball handler in the 4th quarter and the offense is out of sync, the Heat lose the game convincingly (against the same team)

And in the first game in Chicago, with LeBron not even playing, Wade handles the ball in the 4th and the offense looks smooth, with Wade hitting clutch shots in the final 5 minutes. If not for a ridiculous long rebound to the 3 point line off a Bulls miss on their final shot (with a long desperate 3 the Bulls hit on their final possession), Wade is the hero of that game leading the charge and leading the offense.

Subsequently in the following 2 Bulls games the offense doesn't have the same flow with LeBron as the primary ball handler in the 4th in those games.

Those are just 2 other instances this season before the Laker game.. and there's more.

As I said, this has been a consistent thing all year... to anyone that has really followed the team, game in and game out. It's plain to see the Heat are a better 4th quarter team "with better flow" when Wade is the primary ball-handler orchestrating the offense when opposing defenses tighten up in 4th quarters.

That's not a slight against LeBron, it's just something that has been very obvious regarding this team. Wade has to be the primary ball handler for most of the 4th in the playoffs if the Heat want to go far. PERIOD.

/thread

[RedBlackAttack]

Such ridiculous bickering. Has there ever been a case of fans of guys that play for the same team taking part in endless bickering over who is better on this level?

It almost feels like hardcore Wade fans wanted the Heat to fail tonight so that they could promote their agenda of Wade being the most important piece for the team.

....so completely odd.