March 18
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The tune is growing familiar. Tuesday against the Spurs, Dwyane Wade shot 1 of 4 on 3-pointers. Just as he did the game before against the 76ers. A week ago in the loss in Charlotte, he was 1 of 5. In fact, since the All-Star break, Dwyane Wade has stood as one of the worst 3-point shooters in the league, tied for 181st in the league in 3-point percentage. Granted, LeBron James ranks 180th over that same span and Kobe Bryant stands 188th. But that's not the point. Sometimes it's not about the company you keep. Sometimes it's about being true to yourself, or at least acknowledging what you're not."
March 15
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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It certainly was quite the courtesy of the NBA to line up the Los Angeles Clippers, shorthanded Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers for three consecutive Heat home games this past week. Now the real tests on this six-game homestand begin. While Sunday's 104-91 victory over Philadelphia, an effort fueled by 38 points from Dwyane Wade, extended the Heat's season-best home winning streak to six, it's not as if the challenges at AmericanAirlines Arena have been overwhelming this past week. That changes starting with a Tuesday visit by the San Antonio Spurs, then a Thursday nationally televised visit by the Orlando Magic and then a Saturday home game against a Charlotte Bobcats team that is ..."
March 11
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Former teammates staged a shooting contest Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. Rasual Butler opted for the higher degree of difficulty. Then again, life seemingly never is easy as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade took a simpler approach. With Wade shooting 15 of 17 from the foul line, the Heat rolled to a 108-97 victory, moving a game ahead of the idle Chicago Bulls for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. "I just tried to come out and be aggressive," Wade said. "I was very aggressive, trying to get to the free-throw line." Butler, by contrast, took his game outside, converting 6 of 11 3-pointers in keeping the Clippers ..."
March 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat spent the better part of the morning downplaying that this was anything more than another game in a desperate scramble for a playoff berth. Coach Erik Spoelstra reiterated as much a little over 90 minutes before the opening tip. Yeah. Sure. Then how to explain Quentin Richardson going Reggie Miller in front of TNT's Reggie Miller, Carlos Arroyo playing as if he was back at the Olympics with the Puerto Rico national team, or Jermaine O'Neal stepping up in overtime to draw a huge charging foul on Kobe Bryant? No, this 114-111 overtime victory Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena had less to do with the Heat distancing itself from the likes of the Bobcats and more to do ..."
March 3
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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With Dwyane Wade again healthy and the upcoming schedule loaded with home games, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra went into Tuesday night noting, "We still have a golden opportunity ahead of us." It was, of course, even better than that. It was a Golden State opportunity. And while it took far longer than expected against an injury-ravaged, lottery-bound opponent, the Heat finally seized that opportunity in a 110-106 victory over the Warriors at AmericanAirlines Arena. "Any win, at this point where we are, any win is a good win for us," Spoelstra said. "It wasn't a great game for us, but we got the win, so we'll take it. "The only thing that matters right now for us is that we stay in this ..."
March 2
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat's season has delivered it to a home arena that hasn't felt like home, as well as to, somehow, a high-stakes game on March 2. "A must-win game for us," guard Dwyane Wade said, "no way around it." Even though it's against the Golden State Warriors, a Western Conference opponent whose own playoff hopes long have been extinguished. Now two games below .500, the Heat will have Wade back in its lineup for a home game for the first time since Feb. 9. Since then, he has been named Most Valuable Player of the NBA All-Star Game, helped the Heat extend a winning-streak that reached five, strained his left calf, and then returned after a four-game absence Sunday in a loss to the Orlando ..."
March 1
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Dwyane Wade was back on the Miami Heat's active roster Sunday after missing the previous four games due to a strained left calf. Wade went through a pregame workout at Amway Arena, with the decision made afterward that he could return for the game against the Orlando Magic. The seventh-year veteran was injured during the first quarter of a Feb. 17 road game against the New Jersey Nets. The Heat won that game and the next game against the Memphis Grizzlies, but then struggled badly in losses the next three games, against the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks in the absence of its star guard. The four games are the only games Wade has missed this season. "He's ..."
March 1
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat entered Sunday's game against the Orlando Magic in desperate need of a boost. It exited the 96-80 loss at Amway Arena with Dwyane Wade in desperate need of a support system. The more things change, the more they seemingly stay the same. "We fought the fight. I don't have a problem with that," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It's the mental part where we broke down." Its three-game losing streak now a four-game losing streak, even with Wade's return from a four-game injury absence, the Heat reverted to a familiar theme: A lot of Wade early, and not a lot at the finish. After scoring 26 points in the second half of Saturday's 94-71 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat scored ..."
February 28
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Ira Winderman
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It has been an unusual year, constantly sneaking into Dwyane Wade's head and then trying to escape without inflicting too much damage. Already this season in this space we have weighed some of the more intriguing Wade free-agency options. There was the question of the temptation of playing alongside Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon with the Los Angeles Clippers. There was what-if scenario of playing with a potential lottery-winning New Jersey Nets team with John Wall, Brook Lopez and either Devin Harris or the player the Nets would acquire for Devin Harris. Today, we bring it a bit closer to home for Wade. His home. First, in order to facilitate a basis of ..."
February 28
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Because there was precious little that could be said, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra chose to say little. "This was a bad matchup and we have to move on," he said after Saturday's 94-71 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. But this was about more than one game, one loss, another 48 minutes played in the injury absence of guard Dwyane Wade. This was about a season of disheartening moments, especially in this building. Four days after losing to the worst team in the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Heat fell to 14-14 at home, falling for the third time in its four February home games, now with one more loss this season at AmericanAirlines Arena than all of last season. "We have ..."
February 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, who has missed three games due to the strained left calf he sustained last week at New Jersey, went through part of Thursday's practice, but didn't sound as though he'd be ready to play Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Point guard Rafer Alston, however, who has missed the last three games due to a sprained right hand, practiced Thursday and is expected to return against the Bucks. As for Wade, he's taking his time. "It's getting better every day," he said. "I'm not ready yet. I'm starting to rehab and add something every day. I'm still not ready yet." Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has switched starting honors between guard Daequan Cook and swingman Dorell ..."
February 22
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Four days after he was injured in the first quarter of Wednesday's 87-84 road victory over the New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade received confirmation Sunday that the slight strain of his left calf is nothing more serious. Wade, who remained with the team as a spectator for the final two games of the trip, a Friday double-overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies and a Saturday loss to the Dallas Mavericks, underwent an MRI upon his South Florida return that confirmed the initial diagnosis. The team said Wade will continue to receive treatment and continue to be listed as day to day. Daequan Cook started in place of Wade in the victory in Memphis, but struggled to 1-for-7 ..."
February 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade said he viewed the space race at Thursday's NBA trading deadline with interest, but not necessarily from a first-person perspective. "It was very interesting," he said, as his teammates prepared for Friday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. "Some things went as planned, that you thought the teams would do. And some didn't." As the result of moves at or near the deadline, the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings joined the list of teams in position to chase a top-tier impending free agent such as Wade. The New York Knicks, in fact, cleared enough salary-cap space for two such free agents. "My view is ..."
February 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it matter-of-factly, that Daequan Cook "will slide into Dwyane's role." And for a while Friday night at FedExForum, it appeared it would be that easy, even in the injury absence of guard Dwyane Wade, with the Heat bursting to an 18-point second-quarter lead. But then Daequan Cook turned back into Daequan Cook, with play so shaky that Spoelstra had to turn to other combinations on a night he lacked his starting backcourt. No matter, with Mario Chalmers stepping forward to contribute at shooting guard, and with Michael Beasley and Jermaine O'Neal fueling the Heat from the power rotation, the Heat extended its season-best winning streak to five with a ..."
February 19
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat received an optimistic progress report Thursday on the status of Dwyane Wade's strained left calf. With swelling down and Wade maintaining full functionality, the team continues to list the guard as day-to-day, although it is almost certain he will not play in the final two stops of this four-game road trip, Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies and Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks. Wade's injury is the type that can take two weeks or longer to heal, but a team spokesman said there is hope that a return could come far sooner. Wade remains with the team, with his treatment regimen the same as it would be with a return to South Florida. "He's on a day-to-day basis ..."
February 18
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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After pregame warm-ups Wednesday, Michael Beasley and Dwyane Wade busted into the locker room, laughing at each other. "I like running behind you when you sign autographs, because they don't even see me out there," Beasley said. Everyone got to see plenty of Beasley once the game started. Wade didn't finish the first quarter, leaving with a strained left calf that would later be covered by a walking boot, and could keep him out for the remaining two games of this road trip. That left the Miami Heat relying far more on Beasley to rally past the league-worst New Jersey Nets, and his offense and defense were critical in an 87-84 victory at the Izod Center. Yes, defense. Beasley scored 23 ..."
February 16
USA Today
columnist J. Michael Falgoust
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When it comes to escaping, there aren't too many better on the court than Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh.But they can't elude the questions about their prospective free agency after this season, when they headline a star-studded class. Most players and coaches plead the fifth when asked if any recruiting went on behind the scenes during All-Star weekend. "Nah," Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony said, before adjusting his tune. "But we talk. I think everybody dreams to always play with one or two of these guys out there." That came to fruition Sunday, with starters Wade and James as a running and gunning ..."
February 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Ira Winderman
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Yes, Dwyane Wade played most of the decisive minutes of Sunday's All-Star Game (how odd does it sound to say "decisive" and "All-Star Game" in the same sentence?) alongside Rajon Rondo. But Wade left no doubt he was the Eastern Conference's primary ballhandler. Just as he has left little doubt to this point that he is the Heat's best point guard. As the Heat returns from the break, coach Erik Spoelstra said Monday not to expect anything too dramatic with the rotation beyond the subtle tweaks he made before the five days off. That will mean some time for Wade at point guard at the ends of the first and third quarters, but nothing close to a fulltime role at the position."
February 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Monday that his next goal for guard Dwyane Wade is to get more out of his teammates, just as he helped raise the level of play of his Eastern Conference teammates during Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in Dallas. "I think he returned from All-Star break with a great, healthy perspective," Spoelstra said, with Wade named Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game. "He understands so much is expected of him. And with those expectations, there's a bigger responsibility and he knows that. "And he's got to carry a big load. He knows that other guys have to step up, but he has to make them better, as well. It's a great opportunity for him to do that." Spoelstra ..."
February 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Dwyane Wade is thinking big again. And that means, as the NBA season is about to restart, the pressure grows. On his teammates. And management. Fresh off his Most Valuable Player performance in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game, the Miami Heat guard enters the season's stretch run with an increased appreciation of how much a support system can mean. Sunday, in helping lead the Eastern Conference to a 141-139 victory over the Western Conference in front of a record announced crowd of 108,713 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Wade stood alone only at the finish, as he accepted the All-Star Game's MVP trophy from NBA Commissioner David Stern. Otherwise, it was his ability to play off his ..."
February 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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For someone representing a losing team at the All-Star Game, Dwyane Wade has appeared remarkably at ease in recent days. Perhaps that's because he knows it could be worse than the current 26-27. Two years ago, when Wade showed up for the event in New Orleans, the Miami Heat stood 9-43, on the way to 15-67. "I was in the locker room giving a, 'Let's win it for the Gipper' speech," he said with a smile. "This is a time when everyone can have fun with it. It's all about the players individually, rather than what's going on with other guys' teams." With free agency looming at season's end, Wade could have used these past few days in Dallas as a referendum on change. Instead, he deferred on ..."