Last season was the best year of LeBron James' career statistically, as he cruised to a fourth straight MVP and finished the season off with his second NBA title. He seems to have picked up where he left off through two games this season, but will King James' excellence be enough if Dwyane Wade is hobbled?
Wade sat out last night's tilt with the Philadelphia 76ers, held up all offseason as the premier example of tanking in the NBA for a top draft pick. LeBron hung 25 points on Philly, and chipped in 13 assists, but the young Sixers managed to topple the champs 114-100.
"Everything was clicking tonight," 76ers rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams said. "If we can consistently play together, then we can be a good team."
The loss may say more about Miami's reliance on the health of their big three stars, though, more than about Philadelphia's viability as a contending team in the Eastern Conference. When the league MVP has 25 points and 13 assists, and a top power forward (Chris Bosh) adds 22 points and 10 rebounds against a team accused of losing on purpose, the defending champions should emerge victorious.
The Heat sorely lacked Wade's creating, as well as his athleticism on defense. Philadelphia was allowed to shoot nearly 54 percent from the field while attempting less than half the 3-pointers Miami tried. The vaunted Miami D never got the transition opportunities it tends to use to blow games wide open.
Miami is downplaying the need to manage Wade's floor time so early in the year. "It was not pre-planned, it was something our trainers and coaches came to me with," Wade said. "It's early in the season, it's just a precaution."
James defended the decision as well, saying, "If he needs to take the second game of the season, the 30th game, 50th game, 80th game, that's the way it is."
If they struggle with the 76ers without him, though, Wade best be rested and ready to rock and roll come playoff time, or a three-peat will not be in the cards.
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