Fahrenheit [Dunk Contest Recap /// 3-Point Shootout Preview]

Dwyane Wade :: Sophomore Jump

By Ryan Jones

Welcome to Miami? It’s noon on a Saturday in the middle of January, and everything about the air in South Florida right now is menacing. There’s the air itself, a sauna-like 86 and humid, the sort of weather you’d think (and hope) would’ve let up a month ago. The dark skies just north of downtown will deliver on their threat of a downpour a few hours later. Lovely.



Then there are the airwaves, where things are equally nasty. Virtually every commercial break on virtually every station your rental car picks up is filled with sludge-slinging political ads. For a visitor who doesn’t live in a so-called battleground state two weeks before the presidential election, it only takes about 20 minutes rolling down I-95 with the radio on to get the point. For all that, the most ominous thing in the skies over Miami on this day is Shaquille O’Neal. It’s not really him, of course, but a massive banner hung from the top of American Airlines Arena, featuring the Daddy glaring out over the downtown skyline next to the words “Shaq in Black.” Yes, he’s a bad man. He’s also the biggest man in the game, and with the Dolphins sucking it up and no hockey to compete with this year, he’s made sure the Heat are the hottest thing in town.

The night before, Shaq played against the Clippers, scoring 21 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in 46 minutes. Shaq is the reason this games drew a decent crowd, and Shaq is the one whose name and image dominate the sports pages the next day. Most important, Shaq is the reason Heat fans think they’ve got a shot at a title this season. They might be right, but not even Shaq can do it alone. If you’ve paid attention to Big’s career, you know there’s gotta be one more guy. More than a sidekick, understand, he’s the young, explosive perimeter yin to Shaq’s nasty, low-block-dominating yang. Ten years ago, his name was Penny Hardaway. Up until recently, he was known as Kobe Bryant. Now, in Miami, it’s Dwyane Wade.

You should know the résumé: First-team All-American honors after leading Marquette to the Final Four in ’03, the culmination of a stunning junior year that featured a Tourney triple-double against Kentucky and saw Wade earn C-USA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Already married and a father by the time Miami chose him fifth overall in the 2003 Draft, he averaged 16.2 ppg, 4.5 apg and 4 rpg last season but was overshadowed by fellow rooks LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. But while Bron and Melo watched from home, it was Wade whose team made it to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semis. He didn’t get much in the way of Rookie of the Year consideration, but as consolation prizes go, Shaq isn’t half-bad. Now, with a terrific rookie season behind him, Dwyane Wade is... still overshadowed, actually, but at least this time it’s by a 7-1, 325-pound future Hall of Famer on his own team. But there’s no doubting Wade’s place among the game’s best young players, nor his importance to the Heat’s lofty aspirations. With that in mind, we got at Wade on the aforementioned nasty October afternoon, and he was nice enough to give us some truth.

SLAM: You’ve experienced a lot in one year in the League: a coaching change before you played your first game, the playoff run, the Olympics, getting Shaq. Is it hard to believe how much you’ve already
been through?

Dwyane Wade: I guess when you look at it, it is a lot in one year. I’ve been on a rollercoaster ride ever since my Final Four run with Marquette. It’s been great, and hopefully it can continue.

SLAM: You’re kind of identified with that underdog status from Marquette, and last year the Heat had that vibe, too. With Shaq here, that changes. Will you miss that?

DW: I don’t think I’m gonna miss it. I think I’ve worked hard enough so I won’t be an underdog no more, and now that Shaq is here, the opportunity that I’ve been working hard for is finally here. So I gotta relish that.

SLAM: What was your reaction when you found out the trade was official?

DW: I didn’t know what to feel. It was like I was happy and sad at the same time. I was also numb, because I lost some teammates I care for dearly. But I was happy that if it was anybody, it was Shaquille O’Neal.

SLAM: With Shaq, it’s always been him and another guy: Shaq and Penny, Shaq and Kobe. Now it’s you. Do you like that, or do you want to shy away from that two-man team thing?

DW: I don’t think you can shy away from it. I mean, that’s what Shaq brings. Shaq told me, whenever you see his name you’ll see my name, and vice versa. So I’ma do what I need to do—what we both need to do—to help the guys around us. We are the main focal point of the offense, so we just gotta do what we do to help the other guys get opportunities.



SLAM: At Marquette, everybody saw that as your team, and by the end of last year, people saw this as your team as well. Did you enjoy that, and are you content to share that role?

DW: I enjoy anytime somebody looks at me being the leader, but at the same time, if I’m gonna take a backburner to anybody else, I’ll take it to Shaq. I’m only 22 years old—he’s gonna make me better, and hopefully we can win some championships together. And once it’s time again to be that person who leads his team, I will be. But right now, even though Shaq is the focal point, I feel like I’m still a leader of the team, because I do have the ball in my hands a lot, I gotta make a lot of plays.

SLAM: You mentioned the downside of the trade, obviously losing some teammates. Was there one guy you were particularly close to?

DW: It was a close group in general, but one guy, Caron... me and Caron was close. We both from the Midwest, we been knowin’ each other since grade school. We watched each other grow up, and then we got a chance to be teammates, so that special bond was there.



SLAM: With all those guys gone, depth is one thing people are knocking you guys for now.

DW: We gon’ be all right. Maybe if you look on paper, it don’t look like that. But if you know basketball, then you know we got enough. You know we got guys that can do different things and make shots and score when need be. So we don’t really worry about that at all.

SLAM: What about chemistry?

DW: I think it’s coming along. I mean, of course it takes time, but I think we’ll know one day, just like last year.

SLAM: Pat Riley resigned about a week before the start of your rookie season. Did the coaching change throw you off as far as your development last year?

DW: It did, actually, more than most people know. For one I was playing a new position, and when Coach Riley was here, I got a lot of freedom to do things. Then once the season started, it was a difference. At first we was gettin’ the ball to Lamar all the time, you know, I just felt like I was out there. So it was really hard for me to make that adjustment, but as I learned my role, and as coach seen I could make plays happen, he started letting me go more. So I did have a tough start, but we got midway through the season, I knew my role and everybody else knew my role.



SLAM: Do you feel like your role will be pretty much the same this year?

DW: Yeah, it’s not gonna change so much. A lot of people try to put a knock on me and say I can’t shoot the ball well, but the makeup of my team is not for me to sit out there and shoot jumpshots all day. The makeup of my team is for me to drive and get guys the ball. I mean, we got a lot of shooters around, so I’m gonna continue to try to do that, and continue to drive and get myself shots also.

Nice Dynasty man (Y)(Y) I LOVE THE HEAT!!!(Y)

GREAT UPDATES !!! Too bad I still can't play my game vs Heat until Tuesday...

3/4 not bad. Keep it coming strong man. Its lookin great.

Andre Iguodala over Marko Jaric. I just love Iggy.

He's not over him. Jaric got out of the way.

Ok, doesn't matter...

It makes Jaric look bad.

Ok, fixed...

Nice quote.

Game #40


109

118

Iggy with 26, Leads Heat Defeat Hawks

Hawks Boxscore | Heat Boxscore

MIAMI, Jan. 19 (Ticker) -- Andre Iguodala scored 15 of his 26 points in the 4th quarter as the Miami Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 118-109.

Dwyane Wade scored 16 of his 24 in the 2nd quarter, when Miami outscored Atlanta 32-25. In game he added 4 assists.

Shaquille O'Neal posted another double-double of 19 points and 17 rebounds. Udonis Haslem made only 3-of-10 field goals but he scored 5-of-6 free throws for a total of 11 points.

"I felt very good today shooting," Iguodala said. "Dwyane scored a lot too, and Damon (Jones) helped from the bench."

For Hawks, recently acquired Tyronn Lue led the game in scoring with 34 points. New duo of Antoine Walker and Al Harrington made only 8-of-30 for the field, for a total of 22 points (15 for Walker, 7 for Harrington).


Play Of The Game >> ...
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Other Games

January 15

102 104 /// 118 68 /// 88 91 /// 110 111 /// 78 108 /// 93 88 ///
86 109 /// 93 107 /// 124 81 /// 89 125 /// 91 97 ///
79 113

January 16

104 92 /// 108 112

January 17

124 93 /// 81 90 /// 84 88 /// 80 101 /// 79 99 /// 102 94 ///
88 105 /// 91 100 /// 93 96 /// 95 105 /// 113 86

January 18

88 84 /// 96 106 /// 75 112 /// 99 87 /// 72 113

January 19

83 115 /// 103 106 /// 109 98 /// 114 89 /// 83 86 /// 87 109 ///
92 108 /// 109 118 /// 91 95 /// 90 104

The amount of time you're willing to put into this thing. One of the best dynasties out there along with Micchy's & Mafia's. Keep up the good work man. Hope to see all three of these dynasties at JCLive.tk.

NBA Baller 50, this is a nice-looking dynasty.

I have a question: are you going to keep this up for multiple-seasons, and try to make a real dynasty, or is this just a one-season thing? (I know it'd be hard to do more than one season b/c of the 82 game length).

If you are going to try to make a real dynasty, I have a trade suggestion: TRADE SHAQ!!! In the offseason, after you contend for a ring this season. You could get SOOOO much young talent for him, and he's on his decline anyway...

Think of the possiblities...

Nice win. Iggy's been going off.

If you are going to try to make a real dynasty, I have a trade suggestion: TRADE SHAQ!!! In the offseason, after you contend for a ring this season. You could get SOOOO much young talent for him, and he's on his decline anyway...

It's a good option. In a league, called NLL (I know a lot of NLSC's members know about it) i'm Orlando. I acquired Shaq for Francis, Hill, R. Murray and R. Traylor (it was a fantasy draft league) and here i'm Miami, so imagine the players I would acquire if I trade Big Diesel.

If you are going to try to make a real dynasty, I have a trade suggestion: TRADE SHAQ!!! In the offseason, after you contend for a ring this season. You could get SOOOO much young talent for him, and he's on his decline anyway...

It's a good option. In a league, called NLL (I know a lot of NLSC's members know about it) i'm Orlando. I acquired Shaq for Francis, Hill, R. Murray and R. Traylor (it was a fantasy draft league) and here i'm Miami, so imagine the players I would acquire if I trade Big Diesel.

That league aint too shabby as a matter of fact.

Game #41



94 --- 99

Shaq leads again, Heat Capture Playoffs' Revenge

Pacers Boxscore | Heat Boxscore

MIAMI, Jan. 21 (Ticker) -- Shaquille O'Neal made 13-of-17 FGs for a total of 27 points and Andre Iguodala added 23 as the Miami Heat captured a win against the last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals rivals, the Indiana Pacers, 99-94.

Udonis Haslem posted 13 and 11 rebounds to make a double-double. O'Neal and Iguodala made double-doubles too (17 and 10 rebounds, respectively).

Dwyane Wade scored only 7 points in 3-of-15 field goals, adding 6 assists and 4 rebounds.

"Someday I will have a bad night," he said. "It was today. Jamaal (Tinsley) had a great defense."

Reggie Miller and Ron Artest added 25 and 20 for Indiana. Jermaine O'Neal, injured, didn't play; Jonathan Bender filled up the starting lineup and scored 10 points. Tinsley added 17 and Stephen Jackson, off-the-bench, 14.


Play Of The Game >> Haslem shooting over Miller. Austin Croshere (didn't score) can't block.
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Other Games

January 20

91 90 /// 98 119 /// 86 73

January 21

87 104 /// 91 94 /// 106 77 /// 107 86 /// 97 82 /// 80 115 ///
90 86 /// 91 110 /// 106 110 /// 94 99 /// 100 88

Last edited by kibaxx7 on Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

Big win. You did what the real Heat can't.

Game #42



109 --- 94

With a 4th Quarter dominated, Heat in the top of East

Heat Boxscore | 76Ers Boxscore

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 24 (Ticker) -- Shaquille O'Neal scored 25 points and Udonis Haslem and Eddie Jones added 19 each as Miami defeated the Philadelphia 76Ers, 109-94.

Haslem tied his career-high of 18 rebounds, and Jones added 5 assists.

Damon Jones, off the bench, made 5-of-9 shots (3-for-5 3-pointers) for a total of 13 points.

"Yeah, I felt very good in the court today," Haslem admitted. "Shaq was only scoring so Stan (Van Gundy, coach) told me to grab the rebounds."

Glenn Robinson led Philly in scoring with 25, followed by Allen Iverson, with 19.

In the first meeting between Sixers and Heat since their trade, Andre Iguodala started for Miami and recorded 14 points and 7 rebounds. Keyon Dooling started at point guard for Philadelphia and posted 13 points; with this move Iverson played at SG. Rasual Butler, at bench, played 17 minutes, adding 9 points.


Play Of The Game >> Eddie with the shot; Willie Green, trying to block, scored 8 in 28.
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Other Games

January 22

86 83 /// 86 84 /// 99 114 /// 91 70 /// 105 65 /// 85 106 ///
90 89 /// 88 68

January 23

104 80 /// 115 119 (OT) /// 107 115 /// 109 94 /// 87 81 ///
91 86 /// 85 87

Last edited by kibaxx7 on Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:33 am, edited 2 times in total.

Nice updates ! Great win against Philly !

Nice win.

Nice work! Got Iggy!

Last edited by Fresh8 on Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

You dominated Philly. Your team is definitely alot deeper than the real Heat. You had six player six double figures and have the potential to have at least 7 players averaging double figure scoring.

Great win, love your dynasty, Iggy's doing great too I'd like to see Damon Jones play a little more though

You're been playing Shaq a lot of minutes.

good to see that this is still going....... keep it up what's your standing by the way, you're dominating the league just like the real heat......