Dwyane Wade: 5 Ways He Can Elevate His Game Against the Boston Celtics
The Miami Heat have had a difficult time with the Boston Celtics over the past two seasons, as the Celtics have topped the Heat in eight straight meetings.
A huge reason why they've struggled this season has been the play of guard Dwyane Wade.
Wade simply hasn't looked like himself against Boston's big three this season. In all fairness, two of the three matchups so far were early in the season before Wade hit his stride, after missing the entire preseason.
But in the most recent game in Boston, there's just no excuse for Wade's play.
Let's take a look at what the Heat guard needs to do in order to be successful against Boston.
Play Under Control
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Controlling himself has been an issue for Wade at times throughout his career, though it is no surprise, being he has an aggressive mentality on the court.
However, Wade must find a way to channel that aggression in a controlled manner. On February 13th, the Heat guard turned the ball over six times.
From wild passes to careless dribbling, Wade hurt the Heat with his reckless play. Six turnovers simply will not cut it, especially against elite teams like Boston.
Don't Force Anything
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This pretty much goes hand-in-hand with playing under control.
Wade must not force circus shots. Again, this is something which has been very common throughout Wade's incredible career. There have been countless times when he has hoisted up ridiculous shots and they find a way to fall.
If he makes them, everyone thinks it's amazing. But if it doesn't go down, everyone wonders why and wishes he wouldn't always force it.
I'm not saying Wade should take the exciting element out of his game—I'm just saying there's a time and a place for it. And against teams like Boston in big games, Wade needs to do his best to avoid the shots with a high degree of difficulty.
Whether it's making the extra pass or finding a way to take a higher-percentage shot, Wade needs to find a way to convert possessions into points for Miami.
Find Another Way to Be Productive If Shots Aren't Falling
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There have been various times this season where Wade's shot has seemed to disappear. This, of course, is perfectly natural, as we are all human and no one is perfect.
However, Wade must realize when he's having an off-night and refrain from continuing to throw up shots that aren't going in. If the shots aren't falling in the first three quarters, there's a pretty good chance they won't fall in the fourth.
With that being said, just because his shot is off doesn't mean that Wade can't be productive. In his seven years in the league, Wade has built up a dangerous reputation and every team respects his style of play.
If he drives hard to the hoop, he will draw defenders. If the easy layup isn't there, chances are someone else will be open as the defenders flock to Wade.
Because he is so dangerous, Wade has all the potential in the world to be a great facilitator. However, as we covered in the first slide, he must make smart passes and avoid being too reckless.
Get In The Paint
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This is no secret.
Dwyane Wade's success comes from inside the paint.
Sure, he can knock down the occasional three ball, and sure, he's nailed down his turnaround jumper pretty well, but we all know that No. 3 is the most dangerous inside the painted area.
Wade needs to find ways to penetrate Boston's defense and get down low. As stated on the previous slides, all kinds of good things happen for Miami when Wade takes the ball to the hoop.
It usually results in a Wade layup or in a wide open shot for someone else on the floor.
There's no other way to say it: If Wade can't get into the paint against the Celtics, the Heat will have a very difficult time coming out with the win.
Take Control Of The Team
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This has been a topic hotly debated in Miami—as well as the rest of the nation—since LeBron James joined forces with his good friend, Dwyane Wade, in South Beach.
Who's team is this? And the answer is clear—it's Dwyane Wade's team.
He has been around the longest out of the new big three, he has a ring and he has a Finals Most Valuable Player award. James knows it, Bosh knows it, the entire team knows it.
This is Wade's house.
Therefore, Wade must play like this is his team. He needs to take control of the reins and simply find ways for his team to win. This isn't only done through his actual performances on the court, but also in the locker room and off the court.
I'm not saying that Wade hasn't taken control of this team—I'm just insinuating that down the stretch in big moments, like matchups with Boston, he must be the clear-cut leader.
