for many … it couldn’t be worst!
But for Wade it was the end of a miracle
By Daniel Eade
After a season that returned a 28-win improvement from a year ago, DWAYNE WADE and the MIAMI HEAT were bundled out of the 2009 NBA playoffs in game 7 of the opening round by the Atlanta Hawks and an unconscious shooting expo from Joe Johnson.
Johnson, an Eastern Conference All-Star, found the bottom of the net on six of the eight shots he fired from deep on his way to a 27 point outing as the Hawks put the finishing touches on their first round series, 91-78, much to the joy and relief of their home fans, who have patiently waited 12 seasons to see their team advance to the second round of the playoffs.
But for Wade it was the end of a miracle, a fairytale ending eluding the 2006 Finals MVP, despite another night of brilliance that allowed the “Flash” to rack up 31 points, a dream second round match-up against the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James was shot down.
After last season’s nightmare, which included the trading away of Shaquille O’Neal and an injury-prone calendar which allowed Wade to suit up in only 51 games for a second consecutive season, the feisty 6’4” guard alerted the world that his return to health was complete when he starred for the USA at the 2008 Summer Olympics on his way to claiming a gold medal.
When the 2008-09 season erupted, doubters were forced to swallow their words as Wade led from start to finish, leading a team with less fire-power than the majority of the league to an unforseen winning record (43-39) and the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference.
Along with James and Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers, Wade is recognized as one of only three players with a legitimate shot at winning the 2009 MVP award.
Posting 30.2ppg and 7.5apg through the season, Wade was characteristically the Wade we had all become accustomed too before the injuries finally took their toll a year ago.
That’s why as Wade found himself in a starting back-court with rookie Mario Chalmers, protected by a front-line of wall players who have left their best years behind them and a rookie in Michael Beasley who is yet to live up to the high expectations surrounding his selection at number 2 in last year‘s draft, and all this under the guidance of a first year head coach in Erik Spoelstra, Wade’s season is even more truly remarkable on closer examination.
At the end of the day Wade is on vacation and remains enlightened about the Heat’s ability to improve next season, “We’re very encouraged by this season, a team that won 15 games last season and came back, not making any dramatic, dramatic changes and we came back and won 43 games and took Atlanta to seven games. So we had a pretty decent season and it’s something to build on for our organisation.”
Wade really did emphasise the lack of dramatic changes, but maybe all those hits to the head he took finally took their toll, after all the Heat added Beasley and Chalmers, traded Shawn Marion in exchange for Jermaine O’Neal and Jamario Moon, that’s a fair amount of change!!
As Wade excepts the accolades for his achievements over the last twelve months, his extraordinary season may fall into folklore over time but let us never forget just how great he was in 2008/09 and how unstoppable he performed on a nightly basis.
But until another chapter is opened, this fairytale ride has been closed.
