The Microscope: Dwyane Wade's Judgment Falters

The Microscope is your recurring look at the NBA's small-scale developments—the rotational curiosities, skill showcases, coaching decisions, notable performances and changes in approach that make the league go 'round.

Dwyane Wade, Looking Very Little Like Himself

Of all the postseason's stars, it's the judgment of Dwyane Wade that I've found to be the most questionable.

Carmelo Anthony's defense lacked and Kobe Bryant's commitment to operating through the most efficient offensive channels was inconsistent at best, but Wade's shot selection borders on sabotage at times. The Heat star has submitted to the allure of the ill-advised jumper with a disturbing frequency.

Getting to the basket is one thing, but Wade is capable of efficient offense even while making plays, posting up and curling for jumpers.

The Celtics have taken away much of Wade's capacity to initiate the offense with their initial pressure, but why he insists on taking such needlessly difficult shots—several of which per game are outside of his range, frankly—with better opportunities still available is particularly confusing.

LeBron James, Wade's superstar counterpart, hasn't played a perfect series by any means, but at the very least, he seems more committed to the patience and pacing required to consistently execute quality possessions.

Wade typically is in the same boat, but through frustration, boredom, overconfidence or some combination thereof, his shot selection has unfortunately—and, in all likelihood, temporarily—devolved.

It seems only a matter of time before Wade is not only playing like Wade again, but executing like Wade again. Whether that reversion will come with enough time for Miami to pull out this series remains to be seen.

Keyon Dooling's Renewed NBA Relevance

Keyon Dooling's days as a go-to perimeter defender/shaky offensive initiator are certainly behind him, but the new life he's found with the Celtics this season—and, most importantly, this postseason—has made for a fun show.

Dooling's total impact may be a bit exaggerated by how well he's played over the last few games against Miami, but the lack of a successful season in its entirety is pretty excusable when you consider just how much of an effect Dooling has had in the absence of Avery Bradley.

Bradley may not be as crucial to Boston's success as any of the team's core players, but in a series where the limits of the Celtics defense would be tested by James and Wade, he made for a hugely valuable theoretical piece.

A nasty shoulder injury removed even the slightest possibility that Bradley's hypothetical impact could be made real. Without him, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Mickael Pietrus looked to absorb the bulk of the worst defensive assignments in the Eastern Conference finals. They'd have ample support behind them with Kevin Garnett cutting off driving lanes and preventing clean access to the rim, but that's still a heavy load for two high-usage offensive players and one ailing vet to carry.

So, in steps Dooling—and, to a lesser extent, Marquis Daniels—to hound ball-handlers, provide some offensive value and give a painfully shallow team the occasional bit of depth.

Dooling hasn't had to explode to make a demonstrative difference; even by playing at a relatively average level, he's given Boston another valuable piece to add to the rotation at a time when useful players in green seemed far too few.

Erik Spoelstra Continues to Tweak

Miami's rotation continues to turn, as Erik Spoelstra has come to lean heavily on his uniquely point guard-less and center-less lineups over the last two games. What began as a necessary gamble has become something of a game-to-game staple, and it should surprise no one to see the general trends in the Heat's play continue until Chris Bosh makes his return.

According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, Bosh could make his way back into the lineup as soon as Game 5.

Regardless, it seems as though Ronny Turiaf has become too much of a liability to use for anything other than spot minutes (he received a DNP-CD on Sunday), and that Norris Cole and James Jones might be more useful in this series than initially thought.

It's hard for Spoelstra to know what to expect from Cole on a play-to-play basis, but he gave the Heat energy and flexibility at a crucial juncture in Game 4 and would have been painted as heroic had Miami gone on to win. Jones' function is far more limited, but when the Heat are in need of an extra spot shooter and lock-and-trail defender, he's a decent—and switchable—option.

Neither player is completely dependable, but considering the matchups in this particular series, both Cole and Jones give Spoelstra some food for thought when it comes to assembling and modifying some unorthodox lineup combinations.