Wadeing Patiently

Dwayne Wade had a late night/early morning conversation with teammates Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal in which O’Neal told him to be patient and let the game come to him. O’Neal wanted Wade to know that his teammates were behind him 100%.

Wade responded last night by scoring 20 points in the fourth period to keep Detroit from taking the first two games of the series. After the Heat led 47 to 36 at the half, the Pistons came alive from three point land. At one point they hit seven consecutive three pointers. Then Dwayne Wade took over! There was no doubt that this was his game, his team, and his night. Putting on one of the best performances in the play-offs his night was capped with a break away dunk with one second left to give him a total of 40 points for the game.

However, his biggest play could have been a defensive one. With the game still in doubt, Wade was able to catch up with Chauncey Billups and block his three point attempt from behind. The theme of the night was hustle and Wade was the hustler. Like a pool shark who tanks in a game and then mops up the competition when the money is on the table, Wade was the best player on the floor when the series was on the line. Moving to Detroit down 0-2 would have been devastating for the Heat. Instead Wade put Miami back in the series by tying it up at 1-1, and guaranteeing that it will return to South Beach.

Don’t expect this series to end anytime soon. I see a split in Detroit and the series going back to Miami 2-2.