Wade is Ballin'!

[zerophase]

ever since the olympics this summer, he's been one of my favorite players to watch. definitely the lesser of the evils in the '03 draft.

[EarthBall]

It is important to note that the 31 pts/16 asts stat is only since 1986-87. I'm sure Big O, Tiny, Cousy, and maybe even Wilt had some some games like this. And Magic probably had even more. 

[twinbree]

That game winner was crazy. A couple of the Bulls looked like they were crying at the end. Didn't they lose to the Heat at the buzzer in their last game?

[ACF]

You mean Wade is ball hogging...there is a clear difference between the two.

double digit assists in 5 of last 7 games (the two he didnt get it, he had 8 and 9).

he isnt being a ball hog...certainly he takes a lot of shots, but he is playing incredible ball right now.

With his 48 and 12 assists, he was directly
involved in (at least) 72 Heat points in the
game. He is truly playing like an MVP. But
LBJ will probably get it 

[KungPoweChicken]

Wade has no business near the MVP. Without riding Shaq's coattails, we see Wade for exactly what he is. He's good stats, good looks, and good personality. Tell me when he will win a championship without Shaq. Otherwise, why should I care and how is this guy relevant?

[johnnyrondo]

Wade has no business near the MVP. Without riding Shaq's coattails, we see Wade for exactly what he is, and he is a loser. Unfortunately, losing players are not awarded the MVP. 

I wouldn't exactly say Wade road Shaq's coattails. If memory serves me correct, Wade (and the officials) were the Heat's MVP's in the Finals. Shaq has won 4 rings, but he's played with some pretty good players... Pre knee injury Penny, Eddie Jones, Kobe, Nash, Wade, Amare, etc.  Contrast that to a guy who I feel gets a bum rap for not winning more in the playoffs, Dominique Wilkins. What in his prime star did he ever have to help him? Shaq has been good, but the Lakers don't win those three titles without Kobe as well and Miami doesn't win without Wade as well.

[KungPoweChicken]

When Shaq was in his prime, you could have paired any competent wings with him and watched the Lakers succeed. The notion that Shaq needed to have an elite level wing to win is an insult to his former dominance.

[johnnyrondo]

When Shaq was in his prime, you could have paired any competent wings with him and watched the Lakers succeed. The notion that Shaq needed to have an elite level wing to win is an insult to his former dominance.

Any competent wing? Give some examples? are you talking Tony Allen quality or Ruben Patterson or Stacey Augmon or Travis Outlaw or wally Szerbiak or Ricky Davis? B/c imho you substitute Kobe for any of those guys and there's no way the Lakers even make the Finals and lose to Portland that first year and Sacramento the last one (should of lost to them anyways if it wasn't for the always honest NBA refs). A main reason Shaq finally won a ring is the emergence of Kobe as a star. Shaq couldn't do it alone. He needed a dominant guard.

[blueygreen]

When Shaq was in his prime, you could have paired any competent wings with him and watched the Lakers succeed. The notion that Shaq needed to have an elite level wing to win is an insult to his former dominance.

Any competent wing? Give some examples? are you talking Tony Allen quality or Ruben Patterson or Stacey Augmon or Travis Outlaw or wally Szerbiak or Ricky Davis? B/c imho you substitute Kobe for any of those guys and there's no way the Lakers even make the Finals and lose to Portland that first year and Sacramento the last one (should of lost to them anyways if it wasn't for the always honest NBA refs). A main reason Shaq finally won a ring is the emergence of Kobe as a star. Shaq couldn't do it alone. He needed a dominant guard.

No player in the NBA can "do it alone" or has "done it alone". Don't make Shaq out as some fake superstar because he has been on good teams for a large portion of his career.

[moiso]

Wade has no business near the MVP. Without riding Shaq's coattails, we see Wade for exactly what he is. He's good stats, good looks, and good personality. Tell me when he will win a championship without Shaq. Otherwise, why should I care and how is this guy relevant?

He's one of the top few players in the league, thats how he's relevant.  And Shaq rode Wade's finals mvp coattails to a championship, not the other way around.

[CelticsWhat35]

Wade has no business near the MVP. Without riding Shaq's coattails, we see Wade for exactly what he is. He's good stats, good looks, and good personality. Tell me when he will win a championship without Shaq. Otherwise, why should I care and how is this guy relevant?

That is wrong on so many levels.  If I'm not mistaken, usually players who ride someone's coattails don't win the Finals MVP award.

[Redz]

Wade has no business near the MVP. Without riding Shaq's coattails, we see Wade for exactly what he is. He's good stats, good looks, and good personality. Tell me when he will win a championship without Shaq. Otherwise, why should I care and how is this guy relevant?

 

How quickly we become jaded as Celtics fans after winning a championship.  By the same token KG, Pierce, and Ray are still not relevant because none of them have won anything without the other. 

Do I need to rattle of the list of Hall of Famers who never won an NBA title?  They're not "relevant"?  Wade has one, but he's still not relevant because he had the "misfortune" of playing with one of the all-time great power players?

[Fafnir]

Wade has no business near the MVP. Without riding Shaq's coattails, we see Wade for exactly what he is. He's good stats, good looks, and good personality. Tell me when he will win a championship without Shaq. Otherwise, why should I care and how is this guy relevant?

That is wrong on so many levels.  If I'm not mistaken, usually players who ride someone's coattails don't win the Finals MVP award.

Tony Parker disagrees, only mildly though. He's pretty good, just not TD good. Even in that playoff series. He just scored a lot against the Cavs crippled backcourt.

[moiso]

Wade has no business near the MVP. Without riding Shaq's coattails, we see Wade for exactly what he is. He's good stats, good looks, and good personality. Tell me when he will win a championship without Shaq. Otherwise, why should I care and how is this guy relevant?

That is wrong on so many levels.  If I'm not mistaken, usually players who ride someone's coattails don't win the Finals MVP award.

Tony Parker disagrees, only mildly though. He's pretty good, just not TD good. Even in that playoff series. He just scored a lot against the Cavs crippled backcourt.

Yeah but that only means Parker had a better series.  It has nothing to do with who is the better player or who had the better career.  Parker had an outstanding series, that doesn't mean he road anyone's coattails.  It means he stepped up and played great.

[Fafnir]

Wade has no business near the MVP. Without riding Shaq's coattails, we see Wade for exactly what he is. He's good stats, good looks, and good personality. Tell me when he will win a championship without Shaq. Otherwise, why should I care and how is this guy relevant?

That is wrong on so many levels.  If I'm not mistaken, usually players who ride someone's coattails don't win the Finals MVP award.

Tony Parker disagrees, only mildly though. He's pretty good, just not TD good. Even in that playoff series. He just scored a lot against the Cavs crippled backcourt.

Yeah but that only means Parker had a better series.  It has nothing to do with who is the better player or who had the better career.  Parker had an outstanding series, that doesn't mean he road anyone's coattails.  It means he stepped up and played great.

I'm confused, what part of "Even in that playoff series" of my post did you miss? In my opinion Parker did not have a better series than TD.