Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade a Game-Time Decision Against Pacers Due to Inury

Dwyane Wade hasn't seemed to be quite himself so far in the 2011-12 season. Maybe taking a night off will help the All-Star shooting guard nurse his injuries and get back to full stride.

As of now, Wade has been deemed a game-time decision Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.

After not coming out to start the half against the Charlotte Bobcats in late December, Wade reportedly fell awkwardly on his ankle which has not since healed properly.

The effect showed after a poor performance in the loss against the Atlanta Hawks where Wade only managed 12 points on 4-17 shooting. While he did accumulate 10 assists that night, he didn't look exactly like the star we are used to.

Indiana remains a strong team as well as a dark horse to win a playoff series or two, so LeBron James and Chris Bosh must make up for the slack tonight.

Look for Indiana to possibly rely on a zone defense to slow down the fast-paced Heat and force them to settle for jump shots out of their comfort zone.

If Miami can spread the floor and utilize Bosh in the middle, it will help open up opportunities for James to do what he does best and get inside the paint.

James and Bosh must lead the way and receive a nice boost from the bench and other supporting players.

As for Wade, taking the night off will only benefit the Heat during a shortened, but compacted season. They need Wade to be his normal self and be able to contribute to full effect while on the floor.

While the guard has a history of nagging injuries, it's unlikely that it will cause him to miss significant time, but being healthy down the stretch is the most important thing for the South Beach Heat.

Wade has averaged an uncommon 18.8 points a game so far this season on 45 percent shooting. A night or two off wouldn't be the worst thing to help him return to full form and focus on playing his top game.

Miami current sits atop of the East at 5-1 after losing Monday night, but it will now be an interesting factor to see how the Heat do without the impact of Wade on the floor.