Dwyane's "I'm Back" tour

Dwyane Wade had an Olympics-low 10 points in Team USA's 106-57 blowout of Germany Monday. He still had a solid and efficient performance, shooting 4 of 6 in 17 minutes. Through five games he is averaging 16.2 points and shooting  72 percent. Wade has been spectacular showing an explosiveness that had been absent since the 2006 title run and playing sound defense. Though Wade is a reserve, he has constantly starred and provided a big spark off the bench. He's been efficient and played no more than 20 minutes in a game. (Of course he is likely to play twice as long come the NBA season.)

Heat fans should be thrilled that Wade went to the Olympics. I didn't think he would look this good, uncertain how he would fare coming off rehab, but he has left no doubt he is back. In addition to his health, he's got his edge back. A few months ago before the announcement, Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo said in a conversation that he challenged Wade to recapture the fire he had in 2006 when he was one of the NBA's best players, particularly during the Heat's title run. Colangelo told Wade he had a lot to prove, to others and himself.

This seems to have been a cathartic experience for Wade, who in addition to injuries, had to deal with all the negativity surrounding the Heat. Expect a re-energized Wade at training camp next month, and a player ready to reclaim his spot as one of the best players in the NBA.

What are your impressions of Wade? Do you see this Olympic experience benefiting him come the Heat's regular season? For those of you that were skeptical whether Wade would be healthy for the Olympics, or even opposed to his playing for Team USA, what do you think now?

-Sarah

Comments

[ARay]

It was reported earlier today, that the HEAT would not be a major player in player movement this summer. It is well documentated that the HEAT are preparing along with everyone else for the BIG FREE AGENTS next summer. Is Riley really going into this season with this current team?

[jordan]

i think wade is going to be an mvp candidate and lead the miami heat to the play offs by landing either the 8th seed or 7th. cant wait until the season starts.

[jordan]

i think wade is going to be an mvp candidate and lead the miami heat to the play offs by landing either the 8th seed or 7th. cant wait until the season starts.

[cuco]

Im really sure this olympics helped a bunch because he founded sooner than later that he is back but then again he is on a better team now (usa) and playing against no competition so i cant wait until the season starts and the whole key to a successful season begins with him staying healthy if he does that we will be alright he will avg around 28ppg 6.5ass 4.7reb
and with b-easy easily wining rookie of the year 18ppg 9rebs and marion playing for that big contract if not here somewhere else you can be sure he will play his ass out and haslem you now what he does and chalmers will fit in nicely with banks they both play good defense and james jones 3point specialist, all of this equals around 48 wins and look out in the playoffs where theres a wade theres hope we need mourning
to seriously content for the eastern conf
finals.

[Brandon Hoffman]

Wade looks impressive. But he's going to have to more than "back to his old self" for this to be a story of complete redemption. It's one thing to light up the likes of Angola and Spain. It's entirely different to do the same to the Celtics.

Wade can ask Kobe and LeBron about that.

[genius]

Heat will make playoffs this year.
Even if Wade goes down with injury.

Why?
PG. addition of Chalmers will be significant. Banks/Quinn will be better.

SG. Cook will be improved. Chalmers
can play the 2 as well.

SF. Marion/J.Jones a mega-improvement
over last year.

PF. Beasley even as a rook a great
improvement over Haslem offensively.

C. Blount will play harder,it's not his contract year yet but he needs to prove to league he doesn't only try hard in contract year. Anthony will be better.

bench: with Haslem on it, major upgrade.

coach: Spo will be a better coach for this team than Riley has been last 2 years

if Wade stays healthy and is rested for
playoffs no telling how high they may go.
and there still may be a trade in the works for Marion that will move us to a
higher level.

will be fun year! we deserve it after last 2 years of frustration.

[k diddy]

MVP MVP MVP I was one of the people who didn't want wade to go to the olympics because of his bad luck of always getting injured but after watching him these olmpics and the work he's put in with tim grover in the summer theirs no doubt in my mind that he's back but even better, I've alwayz said when his jumper becomes deadly no one I mean no one will be able to stop him I will be the 1st to say barring injury the 2008-09 NBA season MVP is D. WADE

[k diddy]

MVP MVP MVP I was one of the people who didn't want wade to go to the olympics because of his bad luck of always getting injured but after watching him these olmpics and the work he's put in with tim grover in the summer theirs no doubt in my mind that he's back but even better, I've alwayz said when his jumper becomes deadly no one I mean no one will be able to stop him I will be the 1st to say barring injury the 2008-09 NBA season MVP is D. WADE

[scarface8982]

Mark Blount
Daequan Cook
2009 and 2010 2nd Round Picks
Cash

to Sacramento for

Brad Miller

PF Udonis Haslem
SF Shawn Marion
C Brad Miller
SG Dwyane Wade
PG Marcus Banks

PF Michael Beasley
SF James Jones
C Alonzo Mourning (After January)
SG Dorell Wright (resign)
PG Mario Chalmers
G/F Yahkouba Diawara
C Joel Anthony

G Chris Quinn (resign)
F Stepahne Lasme
F Kasib Powell (resign)

See you in the Playoffs

[scarface8982]

786-777-HOOP

[Dan G.]

Wade is at his best when he is playing off the ball and the entire defense is not keyed to stopping him. He will definitely be back to his all-star form this year. But whether he re-establishes himself as a top-5 NBA player will depend on how good Beasley is and whether he can take pressure off of D-Wade.

PS Thanks for signing the name on the post.

[justin]

I keep hearing writers say Wade hasn't played like this since we won the championship in 2006. That is just flat out wrong. The next season before he got hurt, Wade was the best player in the league according to his ESPN PER Ratings. In fact, before getting hurt in 2006-2007 Wade was having his best year statistically, even better than the championship season. Wade has not been the same since that Houston game in the middle of the 2006-2007 season. As a Heat beat writer, I would expect you to know your facts. If Wade is playing at the level he is playing at now and can stay healthy and if we can get Zo back to give us a defensive presence for 20 minutes a game this team can be very dangerous. I don't understand how so many experts have Cleveland as a top contender in the East when they have nobody to help Lebron while Wade has Marion, Beasley, Haslem, Zo, and potentially Chalmers if he pans out and all the experts are expecting from us is to compete for the 8th seed. I am happy that nobody expects anything out of this team. The last time that happened was Wade's rookie year and we almost went to the conference finals.

[chaz]

ah, Flash is BACK! now if we can build a decent team around him, I will start watching again

[C$]

The Miami Heat will be bounced out of the 1st round of the playoffs if they even make the playoffs. All the teams in the East made moves to get better over the summer except for the HEAT. If you are banking on Blount, Haslem & Beasly good luck. Add this in w/Marion's poor attitude and you have the one of the worst teams in the leaugue. Poor D-Wayde he is going to be exposed as a player in decline as the season progresses.

[Fernando]

The Heat needs to surround Wade and Beasley with a decent center and bench if they want to go deep in the play offs...

It'd be great if they can bring some int'l players for back up positions like the Argentinians or some Europeans to add size and long shot range... also I think it is time the Heat changes the logo of the team.

They have to look in the D-League for players as well, there are a lot of good players that will bust their butts on the court for peanuts, we need a garbage man that would throw himself for a loose ball and all the team needs to play defense no only D-Wade, ZO (if he returns)and Haslem.

Eventually D-Wade will need to change his game, his legs can't be flash forever (like Jordan did or Kobe is doing).

[The Watcher ( I see full retards )]

Posted by: C$ | August 19, 2008 at 04:40 PM

I find these characters interesting.

[FlagranteDelicto]

Do you know why Mexico never wins a gold medal at the Olympics?

Because anyone who can run, jump or swim is already in the United States!

[ManilaBOY_WADE]

Great....Gold for USA because of wade.. Championship ring, mvp, final mvp are next...but still, let's just wait..go HEAT..