2011 NBA Playoffs: 5 Reasons Why Dwyane Wade Needs To Be the Heart of the Heat

The Miami Heat do not have my pick to represent the East in the NBA Finals, but one player can make the difference—no, I'm not talking about LeBron James.

Dwyane Wade. Yes, I'm saying he can be the reason South Beach enjoys its second title in five years.

Don't get me wrong, James and Chris Bosh will play a big role in a potential title run. However, if the offense is ran through Wade, head coach Erik Spoelstra's Heat will have a recipe for success.

This slideshow will present some of the reasons why Wade needs to be the focus of this Heat team, in order to find themselves in the NBA Finals.

Wade Is the Only Member of the "Miami Thrice" with a Ring

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DALLAS - JUNE 20: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat puts on the championship t-shirt after game six of the 2006 NBA Finals on June 20, 2006 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Heat defeated the Mavericks 95-92 to win the NBA title. NOTE TO

The biggest reason why Wade needs to be the center of business is because the playoffs are nothing new to him. Furthermore, he's won an NBA championship before.

We've seen James in the Finals, so it wouldn't be his first venture to the big series, but Wade came out with different results.

Wade was able to put the team on his back—believe it or not, in a bigger way than James—and didn't look back.

For those of you who intensely watched the 2006 NBA Finals, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Which brings me to my next point: Wade is the ultimate fighter.

Quitting Is Not in the Name of Wade

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MIAMI - JUNE 13: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat knocks the ball out of the way of Josh Howard #5 of the Dallas Mavericks in the final seconds of game three of the 2006 NBA Finals on June 13, 2006 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The Heat de

Down two games to zero, on the brink of falling into a three-games-to-zero hole, Wade did what most athletes are incapable of doing: refusing to lose.

With 6:29 left of Game 3, the Heat were down 13 points and called a timeout. Wade came out of that huddle and drained a jump shot, which he claims is the shot that made it known to him that the Heat were not about to get beat.

The team went on a 22-7 run to win the game.

From that game forward, there was no looking back, as the Heat went on to win the series 4-2.

LeBron Has Proven Himself Unworthy of Man in Charge

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BOSTON - MAY 13: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers wipes the sweat from his face in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA playoffs at TD Garden on May 13, 2010 in Bost

I love LeBron James. He's still the king. He's still the next closest thing to Michael Jordan.

However, he just doesn't have that drive in him like that of Dwyane Wade.

Call me crazy, but the Miami Heat still belong to Wade, and rightfully so.

James will contribute in a great way—I'm not stupid enough to deny him that—but if the Heat use him as their main man, they'll have problems.

This Is Wade's Team

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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 24: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat waits as a member of the Chicago Bulls shoot a free-throw at the United Center on February 24, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Heat 93-89. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowled

There are some Heat fans who don't remember the days before Dwyane Wade. I'm not one of those people; I remember the Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Jamal Mashburn days. However, Wade has taken the Heat into his own hands, making them his baby for the past decade.

Although this year's Miami team is different than the past, Wade knows Miami. He's been there his whole career—nowhere else.

All the diehard Miami fans should agree on this one: South Beach belongs to Wade.

Looking Back at the 2006 NBA Finals

Watch. That is all.

Just watch the video, enough said.