I think it's possible to respect Wade's game and still acknowledge that Melo's is better at this point. Or at least more consistent.
I consider it far more likely that the crux of that conversation had already happened likely even before the finals were over, or shortly thereafter. What I see, what you see, what every reasonable person sees—those guys see it too. They know. They don't have to be told. They don't need to hear the precise words. Wade? He knows exactly where his body is, and whether it is getting better or worse, and that if it's getting worse, that age is not going to be kind to him. That, in fact, if he's not recovering to a certain point, without exceptional height nor length, without a consistent 3PT shot, and now without knowing exactly how his body will betray him next and every time he goes up for any shot, he's done as a top player—a player to whom you would even pay half the max. Bosh? He knows what Phin-O and I were discussing; that the sacrifices he makes to fit onto this team actually decrease his Offensive (and therefore, his monetary) value; that a guy like 'Melo—a SHOOTER—would actually bring 2 more REBs per game to the roster than Chris is getting. That his playing out of position worked (successfully) for a while, but that it may just be time to let his inner raptor loose again to terrorize instead of merely contain others. That, whether it's what this team wants or not, it is what would be good for Chris Bosh and his own legacy beyond team or certain teammates. These guys don't exist in a vacuum where you and I discuss them and they aren't aware of anything; they know. If there was an uncomfortable conversation to be had between Bron and Dwyane, or among Bron, Chris and Dwyane, it probably happened with them finishing each others' sentences more than with confrontations of ultimatums, or any other silly media/fan contrivances. They knew before we did.
Wade is still a far more efficient player than Melo and still plays better defense. Melo is certainly a much better shooter, particularly from distance, with is something Wade still needs to work on
Wade is coming off one of if not the most efficient season of his career. He is a far better fit for the Heat than Melo. What is Melo better at than Wade, volume scoring aside? As Section said earlier, it's not fair to compare a higher option to a lower option; Melo is the first option on the Knicks, Wade is the second option on the Heat. Edit: I suppose Melo is a better three point shooter than Wade. I'll take Wade's defense and interior play over Melo's three point shooting.
Brother, I'm sorry, but after 10 years you just have to accept a guy for exactly what he is. Wade is a SG who goes about 76.5% at the charity line. That's just plain horrid for a shooter. And if you could say, well, he makes up for it with his three...but no, that runs around 29%. And if you could still say, well, he's athletic enough to still force teams to account for him...but that's not true, either.
What 'Melo brings is 8 points/4 REB more than Wade at this point; 11 points/2 REBs better than Bosh. THAT is the quantifiable difference 'Melo would make over either Wade or Bosh. More is better.
You mean, do I really think there will be anything like a S&T involving either Wade or Bosh? As lmeister would say: about 99% degree of difficulty. But we're just fans of the same team, (mostly) just talking here, right? What's so bad?
I remember when the Big 3 first got together, the first two to three years, the athleticism between Wade and LeBron was insane. Tons of fast breaks, lobs and alley oops, etc. They definitely have lost a lot of that. I think James Ennis can help inject a bit of that back into the offense so that's why I get excited about him. Basically I think LeBron and Wade are smart players and good passers, and they will be able to feed Ennis some opportunities. The big weaknesses for Ennis of course are that I don't know if he's that smart of a basketball player or that great of a passer. So I guess one could argue that he's like a Beasley. But I'm really intrigued by Ennis' shooting versus a Beasley. With Ennis it just seems like "Oh, you want me to make some threes? Yeah sure, why not."
76.5% from the FT line is slightly above average from the FT line. Lebron shoots around there as well. I notice you didn't quote his True Shooting % or his FG% since they are among the league's best. Let's not cherry pick.
No the least bit irrelevant; it could end up being mutable, fluid one way or the other; but that's on coaching and scheme. A shooter is gonna shoot; you won't subjugate 'Melo to scheme the way it's been done to Bosh. With Bosh, there were clearly other attributes to be had in trade, and it worked okay for two seasons in between seasons in which it didn't work much at all. You don't have that with 'Melo; you acquire him to score, and score, and score. You acquire him to take the pressure off the best player in the game to have to carry a team 100+ games a year, and to lessen the absolutely ridiculous burden of having to play perfect Defense all the ****ing time or face losing or struggling to come back from a deficit if you don't. If nothing else, I'd like to see 'Melo on this team one way or the other so that I could breathe once in a while as a fan. You know—have some fun.
He is not Beasley. He is always talking about becoming an elite eefender and puts in hard work towards it.
Dwyane's FG% is 49.2%; which isn't bad, but go ahead and rank it and see how he compares to the top ten in the game. LBJ is a terrible FT shooter as well, FG% around the same but he's 5% better from the three; and no, there's not even a comparison to be had in game. Carmelo Anthony is a 81.1% FT shooter; NOT a liability late in games, when the hacking starts. And he attempted 1640 shots this past season to Wade's 756.
I don't think you'll ever see elite defense in summer league. There is a lot ov chemistry involved thst just can't be built between players. In Australia he was a strong defender from what I know and I'd say they have above summer league talent.
I've heard there was no defense in Australia whatsoever, including from Ennis. And as for Summer League stuff, getting lost on defense is getting lost on defense. I think you can tell which guys are good on defense. For example the guy I talked about before Danilo Barthel, looks very good defending pick and rolls. Less good when asked to go one on one with a 7'0" & 240 lbs type who can move pretty quick.
Hard to say without watching the league honestly so I cant dispute. However I believe in the first or second game one of the announcers made it a point to say Ennis had been an above average defender.
Breaking per Tim Reynolds. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James worked out together in LV, then LBJ went into a meeting. After meeting Tim tried to talk to James who said "I got no complaints, no complaints" and walked away smiling. Tim has not yet seen Riley but has seen LBJ's inner circle. Take that as you will, but Wade and LBJ are spending an awful lot of time together for two guys who just split up
I think everyone needs to remember that Wade was on a two year healing plan. He was healthy last year, but if his recovery has been a complete success its very possible he regains a good bit of explosion.
Ira now confirming the meeting. He is also in LV along with Tim Reynolds for Summer League. But sure ESPN, keep putting Broussard on the air...
. Looks like a bunch of people took Reynolds' first report about LeBron being in meetings and ran with it. He never said meeting with Heat.
Tim Reynolds now walking it back a bit. Says he can't confirm there was a Heat meeting because he personally saw no Heat personnel, so he doesn't know exactly what the approximately 3 hour meeting was about. So do we owe Broussard an apology? Nah
Dwyane Wade is the 2nd most efficient SG in the HISTORY of the NBA, behind Michael Jordan. He shot 54.5% THIS YEAR which put him at #1 among SG's in the NBA, and #2 among wing players behind....Lebron James. I feel as if I am breaking news to you that Dwyane Wade is really good.
I started looking at career field goal percentages for shooting guards... Wade blows most out of the water outside of Jordan. Wade's career FG percentage is 49.2%. Jordan's? 49.7%. Not too shabby.
Damnit, I'm DVRing. Can't watch until I get home. I do like Ennis' ability to get vertical at the rim in defense.
Everyone and their brother has reported it'll happen tomorrow in the last 5 minutes. They very well could've done a secret meeting - but someone certainly told the press it's happening tomorrow because there was a sudden media blitz.
The real news here is that Tim Reynolds broke news. And then Chris Broussard broke Tim Reynolds. What in the hell.
That's the kind of thing I expect from him because of his sheer athleticism. It's the kind of thing LeBron can do and that Wade used to be able to do. I'd like to see some of that injected back in.
Hoping they let him gain experience, not at the expense of the team but in the regular season there are certainly times you can afford to get the young guy in there.
