NBA Finals 2014: Dwyane Wade playing awful defense (Video)
By Chris Walder
Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat is having himself an NBA Finals experience to forget.
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With his team trailing 3-1 in the best-of-7 series heading into Game 5 on Sunday night, a lot of blame is falling on the shoulders of anyone not named LeBron James.
Wade, a 10-time NBA All-Star and former NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, has been a complete and utter afterthought, especially on the defensive end.
Youtuber Dylan Murphy put together a package of Wade’s defensive lapses against the San Antonio Spurs through four games. The video totals 11 minutes with on-screen notes as to why he’s been so terrible on that end of the floor.
(H/T Basketball Insiders)
He’s lost a step. It’s clear as day.
Wade missed 28 games during the regular season, including 15 of which head coach Erik Spoelstra elected to sit his starting guard for precautionary reasons. His quickness and burst is all but gone at this point.
Those knees of his aren’t what they used to be. Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard are having their way against Wade because of his immobility. He can’t keep up.
Not only that, but as the video proves, Wade has also been making mental mistakes on defense that are extremely uncharacteristic. Fatigue could have a lot to do with it, but this is no time for excuses.
No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit. The Heat will need Wade to turn his series around in order to complete the greatest turnaround we will have ever seen. It’s not looking good, though.