Miami Heat Lose Wade, Dignity for Rest of Season

It’s official: The Miami Heat’s last shred of dignity has burnt up in one outrageous moment of dues ex machina. 

Dwyane Wade is out for the remainder of the season to rest his ailing knee and get healthy.  How should Heat fans feel about this move?

I would be outraged. 

This is called an anti-playoff run, throwing in the towel, waving the white flag—a tank job. 

Okay, we all know the Heat are not poised for a final playoff push; no mathematical model could possibly devise a scenario in which the Heat make the playoffs this season, even in the vast landscape of sub .500 Eastern Conference playoff teams. 

Sure it may seem like the next logical step for the franchise to protect its star player by taking him out, but it’s also a heartless gimmick for ping pong balls. 

Let’s not get carried away with excuses, there are only 20 games left in the season.  The Miami Heat season will be over in April, not May or June.  We all want to see Wade get healthy and we all want him to perform well in the Olympics. 

In no way can the importance of this year’s Olympic Games be understated, but we are also not holding our breath for Wade to continue playing 38 minutes a game.  This is an objection based on principle.    

What this says to Heat and NBA fans alike, is that the Heat organization is giving up.  Of course they want Wade to be healthy next season, and picking up Michael Beasley in the draft would be a welcomed bonus, but how can this honestly come across as anything more than a complete forfeit? 

Maybe it is a smart move, but it is certainly more heartless. 

Where is the club’s commitment to its fans and season ticket holders who have suffered though all the losses and disappointment that has ensued this season?  Where is the club’s desire to salvage the small portion of dignity it has left by letting Wade play out the season? 

An extra month of recovery time may help his knee, but it sure is demoralizing.  I would sell my tickets if I had them, there is no excitement in watching Daequan Cook for the rest of the season.

Play Wade for 10 minutes a game, play him for two minutes, but don’t hang it up altogether.  Watching him play is the last positive experience Heat fans are clinging to, and now all that is left is hope for a decent lottery turnout. 

As a fan of the NBA, I don’t want to see players and teams give up, no matter what their record is.  This may be a lost season in terms of wins and losses, but it does not have to be a season devoid of heart.  I suppose they would call it a moral victory, but it appears even that will be tallied in the loss column.     

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