Is D-Wade in decline?

[IamMedellin]

Espn has been spewing this rhetoric today, to be fair... sports radio has as well..

espn stats

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/1987/dwyane-wade

thoughts?

[Warner2BruceTD]

We're all dying from the day we're born, you know what I mean?

[BigBucs]

He is, he cant keep up with Harden or Westbrook and hasnt been that great in the playoffs. That said, he is still a good player but with age he is noticeably slowing down.

[stevsta]

D-Wade is just trying way too hard to be the player that he once was. All that driving to the rim is finally catching up to him and he needs to understand that and be more disciplined in choosing when to drive and when to shoot. He was doing great off the post

[EmpireWF]

Isn't he injured?

[Warner2BruceTD]

Isn't he injured?

Isn't he always?

Or is he...

He doesn't do it so much anymore, but early in his career, Wade was like that one kid on the block who always exaggerated how hurt he was when he fell down. He would always lay on the court clutching a body part after hitting the deck, then limp for a few seconds before looking perfectly healthy a minute later.

[ralaw]

I think he's injured, but also think he's on the decline as well, because throughout his career Wade has been injured but he's always remained a great player.....not do much know.

[Rudi]

#1GameOverreactions.

He scored 20+ pts in 5 of the 7 games against the Celtics and averaged nearly 6 boards/5 assists a game.

Over 26 a game in the Pacers series. Just because he has one bad game to start the Finals I don't think there's a need for a freakout about how hes on the decline. He is still a very good player.

Typical ESPN over reaction tho.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Been saying it for two years...yes.

If I were the Heat, I'd trade him in the off-season.

[Diivox]

All that driving to the rim is finally catching up to him

With the way that the Heat catch whistles, I can't blame the guy for driving to the lane all the time. While the NBA protects its stars and thats pretty much a given, nobody gets calls like the Heat do. they even talked about making the consciounce choice to stay away from the perimeter in the offseason because they get the easy points by driving to the rim.

With that being said, I think its borderline crazy to say the guy is in decline. he's only 30. He doesn't play RB in the NFL, he's a shooting guard in the NBA. the guy has a good 6 years left of prime time. His numbers have also declined in large part because he has made the choice to defer to LeBron - the guy could absolutely take over games if it wasnt for the fact that he has to prop up BronBron. It almost feels like he lets LeBron hit his crazy numbers because if he doesnt everyone is gonna talk about LeBron can't get it done. Wade is the alpha dog of that team and he will be until the day he retires. It would be ludicrous to trade him before you'd trade Bosh or the false king James (and even then, I'd still trade LeBron first, if only because Bosh is the only real post player on the roster) and trading Bosh for another guy down low would be pointless.

[Mogriffjr]

I don't think he's in decline but he's injured of some sort...he's not showing much lift and such like he was earlier in the season, etc.

For one, he needs to just make his offensive move and GO...stop trying to draw the foul...it's like the defenders play the fake and when they do, he's stuck picking up the ball and passing it. When Wade just goes into rhythm on his shot, he has a much better chance of hitting his jumpers...early on in game 1, he hit two tough shots along the baseline but he was in rhythm and it seemed he was sure of taking those shots...this whole, driving, pump fake, "oh shit, what to do now" thing isn't working. stop it.

[red33]

if hes declining its due to injuries.

OBV hard to compare stats alone since hes now playing with LBJ but maybe tht has alot to do with his decline as well.

You cant have 2 leaders.

[Point Blank]

Dude is not injured man, thats always the excuse for him when he's playing shitty. Then the injury talks disappear when he explodes the next game with 30+

[Bomberooski]

I need an answer from someone who has really watched Wade since he entered the league.

Has he always had the emotionless look of "I don't care" or is this a new development?

[FlawLeSs]

I need an answer from someone who has really watched Wade since he entered the league.

Has he always had the emotionless look of "I don't care" or is this a new development?

no. im guessing its new. the guy never took a possession off and would will us to victory night after night. i think its just him finally realizing he isnt the top dog anymore and it has to be a hit to his ego not to be that #1 guy anymore no matter how much he downplays it to the media.

but on another note this bitching at the refs and not getting back on D started when lebron joined. its a joke and i wish someone would let him know he's hurting his team.