Discussion: Is DWade's decline overstated?

[Greenbean]

Statistically, DWade was giving the Heat just as much if not more than the playoffs the year before.

I know the eye test might tell us a different story, but I think it is totally conceivable that Wade can come back healthy and play well enough to contend for 2 more years with LeBron.

He has literally been forgotten, in the media coverage at least, as a big piece to a championship puzzle. He is 32! Not 38...

Is it possible that Wade isnt even being courted by other teams?? Tough to believe.

[esel1000]

He looked awful for his standards in the playoffs. Glorified role player status. Injuries really slowed him down.

It's possible he comes back healthier next seasons but he's clearly on the decline. He's 32 but he was a top option for so long... it's why guys like Melo and Lebron want to find situations where they don't have to shoulder the load. Who knows where Wade would be if Lebron hadn't gone to South Beach

[Vox_Populi]

I don't think it's overstated. These last two years in the Playoffs, he's had some of his lowest numbers since his rookie season, barring the year he only played 4 games. They at least wanted the 2012 Playoffs Wade. Maybe he played better than last year, but he was still bad.

Wade spent most of his earlier years relying on his athleticism. Couple that with a removed meniscus and a lot of minutes and he was always going to start breaking down earlier than expected. His 32 is not the same as Kobe's 32. There are probabkly teams out there that would slightly overpay for him, since he's still above average, but no way he leaves Miami.

[Celtics4ever]

I think he was out of shape and missed many games due to taking time off.   So yeah, I hate the guy and the HEAT but I think it is overstated.    But you can only take so many flops and give up the body so many times before you get dinged up some.  He is in decline but missing 30 games might have something to do with the vanishing act.

[Endless Paradise]

Somewhat, but it's pretty troubling that Wade was kept on a maintenance program all throughout the year specifically to keep him fresh for the Finals, only to see that go up in flames.  I mean, sure, he has some great outings early in the playoffs and was pretty effective against Indiana, but a) Indiana was already a shell of themselves, anyway and b) the only good that did the Heat was a conference title en route to the most lopsided Finals loss in history.

[RyNye]

Honestly, it's hard to say. His numbers last season were actually quite good if you just look at his averages (especially in terms of efficiency). He did noticeably slow down towards the tail end of the playoffs as he did the season before. But with such a small sample size, it is difficult to tell if that is legitimately the result of being unable to play or if it was just too inopportune cold streaks of the sort that can happen to any player. It's also hard to separate his performance from specific match-up issues as opposed to an indicator of broader ability.

That said, I think the big question mark with this last season is the fact that Wade played so few minutes and games in order to be rested for the playoffs, and it didn't appear to make a difference.

I think the decline is a bit overstated in that he can still be a significant contributor on a good team. That said, there is definitely some concern about his health and consistency.

[LarBrd33]

Know whose decline is understated?   Derrick Rose.  I sincerely doubt that guy will ever play at an all-star level again and yet people talk like he's still a superstar.

But yeah, I wouldn't necessarily be shocked to see Wade average 25 points with Bron gone.

[nickagneta]

Brought this point up eons ago on this site. Historically 32 is a funny age for SGs when it comes to the NBA. Except for the very best of the best SGs in NBA history, 32 is the age where most SGs fall off a cliff and are pretty much done from there on out. I am just too darn lazy now to show some stats but the theory has some great stats and examples to back it up.

Wade has been great but I think his game is going to have some major fall off real soon.

[Fafnir]

No. He's still a very good player, but he's no longer a difference maker.

Slow, can't defend at a high level anymore. Highly inconsistent from game to game with his energy and impact. Limits his teammates options with his inability to space the floor and lack of off the ball movement.

The Spurs hid bad defenders on him and got layup after layup in transition. He still has those games where he looks awesome and he gets his numbers. But he got those numbers while playing a light workload while also having LBJ/Bosh draw out defenses for him.

[Mr October]

Even though he is declining, Wade is still an all star. But with he and Kobe declining, there are no great SGs in the NBA. I am not that into James Harden, especially in the playoffs.

[Future Celtics Owner]

I am pretty sure he had his meniscus removed in college , the same thing that Drose and E Bledsoe had repaired this year. Medical advancement has made that injury much easier and able to repair instead of removing. I am pretty sure that is why Dwade is not holding up.

[D.o.s.]

I am pretty sure he had his meniscus removed in college , the same thing that Drose and E Bledsoe had repaired this year. Medical advancement has made that injury much easier and able to repair instead of removing. I am pretty sure that is why Dwade is not holding up.

This is correct -- and yes, that's a large part of it, although I believe Wade did have the choice between the two and opted for removal, rather than repair.

[budMovin]

He has a lot of hard minutes on that odometer. I've never seen someone his size take that kind of punishment his first half dozen seasons. Some people age better than others, but I think playing style is the best barometer for sustainability. His best days are clearly over. Lebron needed someone to shoulder the burden in the finals and Wade did not look like he wanted anything to do with that.

I'm actually shocked he was elite for as long as he was. A lot of people thought that he would never be the same with all the injuries he had accrued by the end of the 07-08 season.

I bet he averages less than than 30 min a game this season.

[Waew]

Do you remember at the beginning of last season, when Durant said D wade wasnt a top 10 player, and d wade replies with this note

http://instagram.com/p/eqnvA3FCAP/

he ended up making kevin durant right.

[action781]

He has a lot of hard minutes on that odometer. I've never seen someone his size take that kind of punishment his first half dozen seasons. Some people age better than others, but I think playing style is the best barometer for sustainability.

Iverson comes to mind.  Iverson also had a substantial drop in production right after his age 32 season.