Heat vs. Celtics: Dwyane Wade Must Attack the Basket and Get to Free Throw Line

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade's poor performance in Friday's Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals can be summed up in one stat: zero free throw attempts.

For him to play 42 minutes, have the ball in his hands a lot, and not attempt one free throw is stunning. Whenever he's not shooting well, he can get into a groove by driving to the basket, getting fouled and hitting some free throws. Wade is at his best when he attacks the rim.

The only other time in his playoff career that Wade didn't shoot any free throws was during his rookie season in 2004.

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Last time Dwyane Wade finished a playoff game with zero free throw attempts? He was a rookie, L vs. NOH Apr 24, 2004

— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) June 2, 2012"

Wade is confident that he will improve in Game 4, telling the Associated Press (via the Boston Herald):

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"I can score the basketball, I’ve just got to find other ways to do that. It might not be a 41-point effort like it was in Indiana, you never know what each game takes, but I’m just going to go out here and play the game that I played for so many years and I will find a way to be effective."

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For Wade to be effective, he has to be aggressive from the moment he touches the ball on Sunday night.  The Heat must have Wade playing well and scoring at his current playoff average of 23 points if they want to beat the Celtics and make a second straight appearance in the NBA Finals.

The Celtics are going to pressure the Miami stars a lot in this series, and Wade knows that the Heat must cope with this better.

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"I’m getting doubled at the top of the key. I’m getting doubled in the paint, so let’s not shoot a turnaround jump shot all the time, which is not a good shot for our team. We’re going to have to find other ways for our team to loosen things up. And eventually, I’m a patient person, so eventually things will hopefully loosen up and I can get my opportunities where I can attack and get in a rhythm a little more."

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The team with more free throw attempts has won each game of this series. Getting easy points at the line is how players like Wade, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce start to heat up when their outside shooting is not going well.

Even though we put so much pressure on James to perform for the Heat in the playoffs, and deservedly so, Miami's chances of beating the Celtics and winning the championship against the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder will depend on Wade's performances.

He's the key to the Heat and their championship pursuit.

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