 |
| It's hard to believe the Heat could be better off without either James (6) or Wade. |
Miami's 90-78 win over the Orlando Magic Sunday mark their sixth in-a-row and first game at home in almost two weeks. But it's been the team's most recent road trip that has gotten overlooked.
On Feb. 8, the Heat embarked on a 6-game, 10-day road trip starting in Orlando where they suffered their most recent loss of the season. Since that time, Miami has won their last five road games, including three straight in consecutive nights.
In all three of those game, the Heat at one point or another held a 30-plus-point lead, making it the first time in over 30 years a team won back-to-back-to-back road games in as many nights and led by that type of point differential.
Miami is currently tied with the Chicago Bulls for the most games won this season by 10 or more points with 17. Not to mention Sunday's win of 12 points is the smallest margin during the Heat's current streak.
Now, the Heat possess the best record (25-7) in the NBA with the idol Bulls, who have been without reigning league MVP Derrick Rose for the last five games, a half back behind them for the top spot. Miami leads the Southeast division by five games over the Magic and five and a half better than the Atlanta Hawks, both whom are teams above .500.
A year after Miami finished just 21-19 against teams .500 or better, they have drastically improved in year two of the 'Super Team' experiment. Their 13 wins against elite opponents this season are third only to Oklahoma City's 14 and San Antonio's 14, but lead the Eastern Conference.
And at the forefront of it all has been the always controversial, but sensational LeBron James.
James, who has already won a scoring title (2007-08), is second in the NBA in scoring, averaging 28.0 points per game.
But it has been his ability to win games without Dwyane Wade that has been most impressive. James has won seven of the eight games he has played without him this season, averaging 29.3 PPG, 7.6 rebounds and 7.7 assists while doing so.
James and Wade both did not play in a game on Jan. 5 against the Hawks, but nonetheless resulted in a 116-109 win, bringing Miami's record to 8-1 without Wade this season.
Despite coming into the league at the same season, James and Wade have had much different careers. James is only 27 after being drafted straight out of high school with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wade, 30, on the other hand was selected fifth overall that same year after attending Marquette University for three years.
James was the Rookie of the Year while Wade brought the Heat their first NBA championship in 2006. But now with each passing year and both nine-year veterans it's all about winning.
In the possible 688 regular season games both could have played in up to this point since arriving to the NBA, James has played in 658 of them, but Wade has been hampered by injuries most of his career, playing in just 591.
Is it time to think of life without Wade?
James and Co. have proven they can win without Wade, it even allows teammate Chris Bosh be somewhat of the guy he was in Toronto. Bosh has averaged 25.6 PPG in Wade's absence and continues to thrive as James' Robin.
It's hard to believe there could be a team with too much star power, but that may be the case in South Beach with Wade as the odd man out.
No comments:
Post a Comment