Reality Check: From Beijing to Biscayne

Now that he's done with that, there's this.

No sooner than newly-minted Gold Medalist Dwyane Wade finished off his job with the Redeem Team   at  the Beijing Olympics, he's faced with a major reclamation job on Biscayne in Miami.

But there's a major difference between the challenges with Team USA and Team MIA. In Beijing, Wade  had plenty of All-Star help. He was a star among stars.

On Biscayne, Wade's a star among ... well, you just can't be too sure right now. Beyond Udonis Haslem and Shawn Marion (assuming he sticks around ... and it appears he will), where else can battle-tested playoff commodities be found on this Heat roster? Sure, there's promise with rookies Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers. OK, there's even hope in Marcus Banks, Dorell Wright and Mark Blount. And there are certainly bench upgrades in Yakhouba Diawara and James Jones.

But the next time any among that group hits a clutch playoff shot, provides a critical postseason defense stop or grabs a game-sealing rebound, it will be the first time they do any of those things.

Indeed, Wade has his work cut out for him. It's a daunting task, which is why you have to give him props for somehow summoning the mental strength to address the Heat's issues on Monday just moments after emerging from 18 hours of flight time from China.

Wade had a gold medal around his neck, but he knows he's still got quite a burden on his shoulders. In Beijing, everyone from Kobe Bryant to LeBron James to Carmelo Anthony all carried a fair share of the weight. On Biscayne, Wade is back to handling the bulk of the heavy lifting.

With the Heat's training camp starting a month from now, Wade deserves a recess before he serves as foreman of the Heat's reclamation job. And he'll get one.

"One thing you want to do is relax," Wade said after his flight landed at Opa-Locka Executive Airport on Monday. "We’ve been going for a month, been preparing for it for three months. Relax. Enjoy it. But we start training camp this time next month. I’m looking forward to this season. But I do need to relax my mind and body some before we really get into it."

Wade did a remarkable job accomplishing his many missions in Beijing. He showed he's regained his explosiveness and is back among the league's top five or six players. He also led Team USA in scoring and provided the spot defense that had gone missing the past two seasons in Miami. And ultimately, Wade brought back a medal a few shades lighter than the collection of bronze he's reluctantly accumulated the past four years.

But Beijing is over. Wade should rest up. He deserves it and will need all of it he can get. Because now, he's back on Biscayne. And the challenges only get tougher from here.

But one thing's for sure. Wade is back. Both figuratively and literally.

Comments

[genius]

Wade's incredible play in the Olympics
convinces me he should play the 3, except
when he is over-matched against a much taller opponent, and in that case he can go back to the 2. He has shown that playing
off the ball he's even better than when he has it..and with him at the 3, the Banks-Chalmers-Cook combo in the backcourt will
add even more extra firepower. another reason Marion should be traded (but not hastily and not for lesser value)

[Ken B.]

The "Banks-chalmers-cook" combo. What the heck does that even mean? Banks who hasn't been able to hang onto a backup pg job in the nba? Cook who has proved nothing so far? Chalmers ALSO who has proven nothing so far? And because of that you want to play Wade at the 3 where he gives up 3-7 inches every night? AND TRADE MARION the only other proven difference maker on the team? Our PG situation is DIRE at best. Chalmers may work out in time but hes a rookie PG, it took PAUL a year to effectively run a team, think about that. Cook is a SG with LIMITED ball handling ability. We need a starting calibur PG in the worst way. And a defensive big. Also, someone else who can create his own shot. Marion is a lockdown 3 who can score without plays being ran for him. We need that. lets try and keep this guy while making Beasley into a MAN who can play the 4. I say we don't let this kid get soft and b-tch out from banging with the rest of the 4's in the league by hiding at the 3 spot. I'd like to have seen us get a veteran point so chalmers could develop for a year, but thats looking bleak right now. So i guess he starts. and blount....well lets hope he leaves his purse at home and plays some defense for the first time in his ilfe. Otherwise we won't be watching Heat playoff games this year. Again.

[genius]

everyone says you can't play bigger men
at sf(e.g. Blount) because they can't defend a smaller faster opponent. at the same time everyone says you give up too much height if you put a smaller faster man(e.g. Wade)against a taller sf. well, which is it? in any case i said Wade should not play the 3 against much taller sf's because you want to avoid physical weardown on defense. but I think his advantage offensively would be even more
fantastic if teams had bigger slower sf's defending him. he would run them ragged.

unless you feel Miami is a title contender
this year and next, there is no reason to hold on to Marion, who will be 31 next year, will demand a huge contract, and then will be on the downside of his career and have no trade value as he now
has. just foolishness..whatever his ability now he is in the way of developing
the talent we need for the future.

as far as Blount, he has played defense..
in his contract year--it wouldn't be the first time in his life. but yes, we still
need a big guy who can rebound, bang, and
defend and hustle to complement Blount.

The Banks-Chalmers-Cook combo is admittedly unproven. but the talent is there and needs to develop. we not to give them a fair shot. we are not
playing for a title this year. after a 15-67 season a playoff spot with good indications of a properly developing future are what we are looking for.

[genius]

i meant "need to give them a fair shot"
sorry for typo

[Brandon Hoffman]

Congratulations Dwyane Wade!

[black the trucker]

i would also like to congratulate dwayne for his play and the team winning gold. now lets get down to bussiness trade marion to washington for butler, blatche, 1st round pick. trade that pick and maybe another to clippers for lordan he's long, runs well, young. we could trade cook,anthony, haslem to golden state for harrington. plz not all at once maybe a job in front office, i know i'm good. anyway!!! will keep in touch.