Dwyane Wade: Still Boston Celtics' Biggest Threat Despite LeBron James' Game 2
The second-round series matchup between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics is not one for the faint of heart.
Technicals. Ejections. A post-game war of words.
We're only two games in.
The Boston Celtics must shut down Dwyane Wade in order to work their way back into the series.
Don't get me wrong. I'm a firm believer that LeBron James is the best basketball player on the planet, the most important member of the Miami Heat, and probably the most important figure for the brand of basketball itself.
LeBron James was the MVP of Game 2, but he's not the most important player in the series.
Rajon Rondo might hold the key to the Celtics' title hopes, but for me, it's Dwyane Wade who holds the key to the remainder of this series.
Don't mistake this as an impulsive reaction to Wade's 38-point opening-game blitz.
Wade single-handedly saved Miami some face during a first-round exit at the hands of the Celtics last year. Facing a sweep in Game 4, the Marquette product dropped a franchise-high 46 points on the C's, outscoring Boston 19-15 in the final period.
Sure, the resistance was short-lived, but Wade still averaged over 33 points a contest and shot a red-hot 56 percent from the field.
This time around, he has help.
For perhaps the first time in any such debate, LeBron's unrivaled statistical brilliance counts against him.
James' playoff performance this postseason has been a model of consistency. The Heat star contributed at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in five of Miami's first six playoff games.
The Celtics know LeBron's presence will be felt at both ends of the floor. They'll do their best to keep him out of the lane, slow him in transition, and live with any long jumpers he makes.
Sure, no other player on either team has the potential to record a 50-point triple-double. But when LeBron nearly achieved that feat earlier in the season, it was against the Magic, not the Celtics.
And Doc Rivers will be confident enough that Paul Pierce can avoid his own Kodak moment.
When Wade took over against the Celtics at various stages last year, he was often doing it as a one-guard. Not only does this give the Heat a size advantage, it allows Wade to focus most of his defensive energies on Rajon Rondo. Few would argue that he is best equipped to null Rondo's influence.
This also makes the Celtics' point guard far more accountable on the defensive end, a task he is less concerned with when Bibby or Chalmers are on the floor.
Cast your mind back to the regular season when the Celtics blew past the Heat in their opening three encounters. In the four-game season series, Dwyane Wade averaged just 12.8 points in 39 minutes.
He shot a miserly 28 percent from the field and 18 percent from long-range—it's no wonder the Heat struggled.
Wade truly is the difference here.
In stark contrast, LeBron James lit up the box score with his usual dazzling returns. Through the season series, James averaged 28.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists—all the while, he kept Paul Pierce below his season average in both points per game and field-goal percentage.
LeBron James is the Miami Heat's best player, but Wade is the franchise's barometer.
Only twice since January, Wade has had a big night (30-plus points) and the Heat have gone on to lose.
Comparatively, James shot over 50 percent from the floor in all six of Miami's alarming losses in late February and early March.
If Miami can steal Game 3 or 4 at the TD Garden, this one is as good as over.
Win or lose, LeBron James will put up stellar numbers.
Win or lose, well, that might just be a matter of which Dwyane Wade shows up for the remainder of the series.
