Can Dwyane Wade save the Heat?

Hey guys. Since the last post, New Orleans has lost twice, and Chicago has finally chalked up a win. Is the NBA settling down after such an unpredictable opening week? Maybe. The Pacers and Clippers have also come down to earth, while the Blazers have rebounded from their 0-3 start to win 3 in a row and make .500.

The Wizards got a win today, so they are no longer among the ranks of the winless. They were a promising team last year before Gilbert Arenas went down with the knee injury, and behind the leadership of Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison they should rise back to respectability.

But what about the Heat? They're 0-5 and currently aggressively flirting with 0-6 against the Knicks. The offense has looked miserable against every team so far, with the exception of the Suns (go figure). Ricky Davis, brought in to carry the scoring load and fill the void left by Dwyane Wade, has been erratic and has drawn the ire of the Big Daddy on account of his refusal to throw the entry pass.


Will Wade be able to turn this team around? The answer is a resounding yes. It might not happen immediately, as he will need to get his rhythm and conditioning back, but he is still one of the best (if not the best) players in the league.

Right now its not difficult to defend the Heat. Teams have been successfully throwing the double team at Shaq, and the streaky shooting of Davis, Smush Parker, and Jason Williams has made the strategy highly effective.

When Wade comes back this will all change. Teams will have to scheme to contain him. Shaq will become much more effective. Dorell Wright's value will skyrocket, as he will be expected to focus on defense and rebounding, two of his strengths, rather than scoring.

Fellow Heat fans: I know this is tough. The good news is that...

BREAKING NEWS: Right now there are 19 seconds left in the game against the Knicks and the Heat have a 1 point lead.

Jason Williams stole the ball! Alright! He just knocked down both free throws after being fouled by David Lee. 3 point Heat lead with 10 seconds left.

Marbury misses the 3 as time expires! Yeah! The Heat get their first win of the season.

So, where was I? Right, the good news is that...well, now we've got that monkey off of our collective backs. And with Wade returning as early as Tuesday against Charlotte, the Heat will start charging up the rankings. Thanks to Chicago and Washington's woeful starts, the Heat aren't too far back.