During the 2008 season, D Wade was more of a factor during the commercials between quarters than the actual games, but his Olympian performance is serving notice: he’s back. Chuck’s #1 speed dial shut it down at the end of last season to rest his dinged up body. Wade’s aggressive offense puts him on the receiving end of LeBron-type punishment, but Flash doesn’t have LeBron’s frame. So as he limped into the locker room at the end of last year, with his Heat mired in the shit and the basketball world’s attention falling on the renewed Lakers Celtics “rivalry”, Wade faded from view. The perennial question: “Who’s basketball’s best?” went from multiple choice to a binary, LeBron or Kobe.
Well, all three are on this Olympic team and clearly it’s time to restart that discussion. Wade’s demonstrating a blazing first step and an ability to streak into passing lanes for easy steals. Watching him in the triple-threat at the arc reminds me of watching a defense pursue Adrian Peterson - the first guy is pretty much guaranteed to miss, so it’s on your second layer to shut him down. But just like Peterson, Wade isn’t fazed by the second man, in fact, he’s embarrassing them. Right now he’s attacking the basket with a fury I can’t remember seeing, and he’s elevating better than ever. Check the US v. Germany matchup for a master class in transition basketball - most impressive was the reverse layup as he hit the deck, followed closely by the two-handed slam in his defender’s face.
Simply put, he’s been a revelation. Wade shines even brighter compared to Kobe Bryant’s sluggish performance in these games. Kobe seems ill at ease with the international competition, and not because of the wide lane, short arc, or inconsistent officiating. It’s because of the talent level of his own squad. Kobe’s an apex predator, he has been ever since Shaq left town, and he’s only comfortable producing from the A1 position, where expectations are high. On a team full of his peers, Bryant’s game has looked scattershot and oftentimes desultory. He seems to acknowledge the egalitarian ideal of Coach K’s system, by passing up open threes he would shoot every time against the Clippers in December, but he hasn’t embraced it. He hesitates passing out of those open looks, as if he’s fighting all his best instincts.
On the other hand, Wade is showing absolutely no hesitation. You can’t even see him making decisions on the court, he’s simply transitioning from one movement to the next until the ball is in the basket. I’ve always believed Dwayne Wade is the greatest sidekick in the NBA today, on par with Scottie Pippen. Pippen was almost always the best player on the court, with the enormous exception of Jordan, who was even better than Pippen, who was already better than everybody else. So it is with Wade. In 2006, when he was playing with Shaq, Wade looked perfectly at ease and willing to specialize. After Shaq left, he looked out of sorts and less effective in the A1 position.
I don’t think Wade’s wired to succeed in that kind of position like LeBron or Kobe - if you want to play psychology, his affability and apparent humility doesn’t seem to jive with the murderous swagger the role demands. Or, if you want to talk basketball, his game isn’t expansive enough to shape an entire game. Wade’s a great defender with quick hands, and on offense he slashes better than almost anyone, but he’s intensely specialized in these two areas. The best players simply play basketball however they need to in order to win games. For instance, LeBron can fire a three point barrage to bring you back in, as well as pass, but he can also drive to the hoop for and 1s. Versatility allows dominance, essentially.
Even though he’s the 3rd guy I’d call if I’m starting an NBA franchise, Wade’s limited. He’s the kind of superstar that will exceed expectations so long as they’re reasonable. Right now he’s absolutely killing it in the sixth man spot, thriving quietly. This is something you see all over the NBA, especially with guys like Gilbert Arenas’. They’re motivated by your skepticism, and they’re looking to prove you wrong. Of course, what happens when there is nothing left to prove is another question.
Now take a look at Kobe. If you ask the impossible of him, he’ll give you the improbable - the more you ask, the more he gives. He’s not limited by anything save his own psyche. Like Hearst says in Deadwood, “I’m having a conversation that you can’t hear.”
So all of that looks like a bunch of backhanded compliments for D Wade and a bunch of apologies for Kobe. That’s not what I mean to say. Wade really has been a joy to watch, just as exciting as LeBron, and you have to wonder - might the Heat be ready for contention? I mean, if your 2 through 4 is Wade Marion Beasley, you could play crash test dummies at the 1 and 5 and still net the eighth seed in the east, right? The question will be chemistry. Remember how I was comparing Wade to Pippen? Marion fits that bill even better - so what happens when the two best complementary superstars in the NBA play together? Do they wait for madman Beasley to put on the crown? Should be something to watch.


