Bold Predictions for Dwyane Wade's 2014-15 Season

One could say 2014-15 is a make-or-break season for Dwyane Wade.

Wade's perceived ability took an enormous hit after a terrible performance in the 2014 NBA Finals, and many believe the 31-year-old's days of being a top talent are over.  Wade certainly has a lot to prove in the first year of the post-LeBron James era of Miami Heat basketball.

We're going to see if Wade can take advantage of this great opportunity to silence his many doubters. Here are some bold predictions about his 2014-15 NBA season. 

Wade Plays 70-75 Games

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Wade's health has always been a big question mark, but perhaps never has it been more of a concern than it is now. Miami instituted a maintenance program for Wade last season that saw him appear in just 54 regular-season games in order to keep his body fresh for the championship push.

We saw how that turned out.

But I expect Wade to stay healthy and play in nearly all of Miami's games this season. Without James, Miami isn't in a position to rest Wade to the degree it did last year. The three-time champion knows this.

Wade has lost significant weight this summer in preparation for the advanced workload, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. 

With the lost weight, the understanding that his team needs him more this season and the motivation to prove he's still a top player all factoring in, expect Wade to push himself to stay on the court in 2014-15. 

Wade Averages 22-7-5

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Wade might not see the statistical bump that Chris Bosh will this season, but he will absolutely put up bigger numbers this season with LeBron now in Cleveland.

Wade averaged 19.0 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this past season while working in a clear-cut complementary role.

Wade isn't going to become "the guy" with Bosh in town, but he'll still handle the ball much more than he did with James and have the offense run more through him. This will lead to more shot creation for him and others. 

Contrary to the beliefs of Wade's dissenters, he's still capable of producing at a high level with an increased workload. Wade averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per 36 minutes in 2013-14.   

Wade Averages One Three-Pointer Attempted Per Game

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Considering he's never been particularly efficient from outside, Wade made the wise decision to nearly eliminate the three-point shot from his game last season (0.6 attempts per game).

However, Wade fell back in love with the three-ball in the 2014 postseason, taking 1.2 per game during the 20-game run.

While Wade actually shot it well during the playoff (37.5 percent), that success has a chance to be a bad thing for Miami.

The Heat are a much better team when Wade is getting to the basket and shooting mid-range jumpers, but the three-time champion, encouraged by his recent shooting proficiency, just might be willing to let it fly from beyond the arc during the 2014-15 season. 

Wade Will Still Shoot Better Than 50 Percent from the Field

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Dwyane Wade had never shot greater than 50 percent from the field for a full season before LeBron's arrival to Miami.

In their four years playing together, Wade shot north of 50 percent three times and converted 49.7 percent of his shots in the year he fell short. 

Although there's no doubt that Wade will see a decline in efficiency without James, expect him to remain a highly efficient player.

Wade's mid-range jumper has improved significantly over the years, as has his ability to get in position for easy buckets while moving without the ball. Those skills aren't just going to completely disappear with James gone, so a steep decline in performance doesn't appear to be in the cards.

Wade Will Prove He Can Survive Without LeBron James

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There seems to be a belief that Dwyane Wade's chances of winning big ended when LeBron left for Cleveland.

The new-look Heat might not be perennial championship contenders anymore, but Miami will remain one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, and Wade is a big reason for that.

Yes, Wade is 31. But he's still one of the top shooting guards in the NBA today. Surround him with talents like Chris Bosh, Luol Deng and others, and the Miami Heat have a very good team.

With Wade averaging 22-7-5, Miami will earn the No. 3 seed in the East, and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals is more than possible.