Dwyane Wade: “We’re not the Boston Celtics. We’re not these kinds of teams that need to play together.”
Dwyane Wade does not believe the Heat need to play together like the Boston Celtics do. Or something like that.
“We’ve proven sometimes it can be a lot of him and a lot of me,” Wade said of the Heat’s unique either-or, one-two perimeter punch with himself and James. “That’s the good problem that we have around here. That’s the reason we’re all playing together. It’s about figuring out which one.
“We’re not the Boston Celtics. We’re not these kinds of teams that need to play together. We have guys that have the individual talent, and sometimes the individual talent, one-on-one ability is going to take over. Boston has more of guys that have great individual talent, but they feed off each other. We’re a new team and we’re still figuring it out.”
Normally, I’d take the high road and say, “See? This mentality is why the Heat won’t get past the Boston Celtics in the East. This is why Lebron James still hasn’t won a title in his career. This is why Dwyane Wade needed Shaq — and a watered-down NBA — to win his one ring.”
But I don’t care if the Heat don’t play together perfectly. I don’t care if they sometimes resemble a team of mismatched parts. I don’t care if they don’t have a single NBA-caliber point guard or center. This team scares the hell out of me, and in a seven-game series I can’t say the Celtics have an edge. It was hard enough to take down Lebron or Wade on their own. Now they’re a tag team that comes at you from both ends of the court.
When Udonis Haslem returns and if Mike Miller finds his groove, these Heat will become even more dangerous. And you know what’s even more fearful? This — a year when the Heat still lead the NBA in point differential even while struggling through injuries and an identity crisis — is actually the year to beat them. Because with every year that passes, the Heat will become better at playing together. And every year from now on, they’ll add a draft pick and a mid-level exception player to bolster their depth and make the talent around James and Wade deep and scary. Hell, they might even add Nene before the trading deadline, a move that would bring me (and most of the NBA) to tears.
That said, I hope the Heat continue to think “we’re not these kinds of teams that need to play together.” Because, as much talent as the Heat have, it still takes a full unit to dispatch the Boston Celtics. They’re pretty good.
(H/T @MrTrpleDouble10)
Related posts:
Celtics Blog | Jay King | January 25, 2011
Individuals don’t win championships, teams do. I don’t think Riley believes this crap. They need more skilled players to compete for the title. Give them 1-2 yrs building such a team and they can win for 5 yrs straight. Be more afraid of Orlando and Chicago now then the Heat. Go Cs…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m with James, they may be able to scare people with their acrobatic heroics and me-me-me ball, but at the end of the day, in the playoffs when it matters teams that play as teams will beat them. When it comes down to that last second play, in a 7 game series, teams like the Celtics know how to defend as a team and take away almost every option the opponent has. If we play them in the playoffs, look for Lebron to launch some ill advised 3 pointers because nobody else is open and then make excuses in the post-game press conference about how coach played him too many minutes. Give it a year or two… or three.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Mr WAde is wrong.No team can win based on one or two guys.It takes an entire team to win champion ships.The celtics are alot more than two or three guys that can score.The Celtics are way better than the heat in many ways.Wade will soon realise.No body on wade’s team can gaurd garnet.No body on his team can gaurd shaq nobody on wade’s team can shoot better than ray allen.Not to mention the celtics sweeped the heat in the regular season last year.And Ray allen held wade to single digits twice this year.Ray allen also ran circules around wade twice this year.And the Celtics have not been a healthy all year.So imagine what the celtics can do in the playoffs when the game slows down and all the team are together.Just becuse you put two guys on the same team does not mean they will win it all.Just look at denver when carmelo and iverson where on the same team.These guys play better when the other player is off the floor.They will never get it together becuse there games dont compliment each other.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The Heat scare me, and at this point I don’t think there’s any way the Celtics get past them in a playoff round. I’m not sure we even get past the Magic, or even Chicago. Don’t get me wrong, I think we are a far better TEAM than any of those teams, but what Wade is kind enough not to point out is that all too often the Celtics forget to play as a team, and when they do, THEY SUCK. Unless they become more disciplined, they won’t go far in the playoffs this year. And the discipline is, oddly enough, more needed on the offensive end than on the defensive end. One expects the opposite, but for these Celts, the offensive end seems to be the area where they need improved discipline and work ethic. With all the talent this team has on the offensive end, there is simply no excuse any more for the long scoring droughts that cost us badly needed wins (badly needed assuming we are after a championship).
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
So by Wade’s logic, ball-hogging is the key. Wade for the win!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Assuming Wade doesn’t get sidelined with one of his frequent injuries, the Heat will do well in the regular season and fade in the playoffs. Basketball is a team game, particularly in the playoffs when teams dig in and play slows down. If C’s are healthy (a big if) , they should once again, make it out of the east.
The future does look bright for the heat who have a young trio including two “stars”. I hesitate to call Bosh a superstar – maybe it’s because KG always outplays him. If Heat build wisely they should have a powerhouse for years to come. C’s will need to add stars as current group retires.
Go Celts!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Unless the Heat get a quality big man(Nene? That scares me.), I don’t see why we should fear the Heat.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0