I was just watching Friday’s episode of ESPN’s “Outside The Lines,” and the show opened up covering Miami Heat’s 94-75 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals Game 3. In this game which put the Pacers up 2-1, the Heat looked defeated and dejected. The lone spark of the team came from G Mario Chalmers, who scored almost 3 times his regular season average in one game with 25 points.
One player in particular had a completely dismal game. Dwyane Wade had the worst playoff game of his entire career. And as I watched OTL I expected to hear some sort of criticism of Wade for the horrible performance he put up on Thursday night. Instead I heard talk of how Wade is hurt. Wade is battling injuries. Wade has knee and leg soreness. Wade has a dislocated finger. You could almost hear the sad violins playing in the background. I decided since I didn’t see the needed criticism of Wade, I’d do it myself.
Dwyane Tyrone Wade,
Your performance in Game 3 was utterly ridiculous. And that includes your basketball performance and your attitude. You became frustrated with your play and whined on the court about it and then snapped at your head coach in the huddle. Apparently you did not want to hear what Spoelstra had to say. But hey, perhaps you should have listened after going completely scoreless in the first half. 0 points. In 2 quarters of playoff basketball.
People gave you the benefit of the doubt in the second half and just knew that you would turn up the heat (pun may or may not be intended.) But what did you contribute in the next two quarters? 5 points. Five. Cinq. Cinco. Sir, your stats for the night looked like the beginning of fake phone numbers given out in movies: 555. 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 turnovers.
You are part of “The Big 3,” and with Bosh out, you and Lebron James now have to be the Big 2. How can you do that when James put up 16 points in the first half and you put up none? With a weak bench you have to step up. Not including James and Chalmers, you and the rest of the team shot 9-41 for 28 points. Granted, James only scored 6 points in the 2nd half, but he played 40 minutes at a new position….what’s your excuse?
And now it’s being said you’re hurt, when you insisted you weren’t hurt before the game yesterday. Leg and knee soreness? I’m crying real tears for you, I promise. You only shot 8-23 in Game 1 but finished with 29 points. The difference was that you got to the free throw line 14 times that game, versus 2 in Game 3. Credit goes to great defense by the Pacers, but in my opinion, great guards will somehow draw that foul.
For your team’s sake I hope your leg and knee soreness heals because you are now faced with a crucial Game 4. I’m not sure if anyone has told you, but you’re in the playoffs. Step it up, or join the couch.
Sincerely,
Fed up sports fan
