In this thing we call life, we are told there are some certainties we can’t avoid. You know, paying tax, dying – those upbeat guarantees we are all destined for at some stage or another.
The NBA however has its own certainties; no one will be better than Michael Jordan (supposedly), Joakim Noah will always be a pest, and no matter whether he just won a championship or not, some folk will still call for Dwyane Wade to retire.
I know, I know and yes we’re talking about this again. With eight days until the 2013/14 season begins, we still have nothing better to debate than Wade’s form.
Without reliving the school yard antics of he said/she said, or more to the point Instagram this then tweet that, Kevin Durant kickstarted the headlines off by claiming James Harden was now a top ten player and should have replaced Wade’s name in Sports Illustrated’s Top 10 players list.
*Cue laughter here.
Indeed the media do love a juicy sound bite and it’s Durant again who’s been ever so kind to give us his latest insight.
“A lot of people disagree with me, but it is what it is,” he said.
“It’s nothing against D-Wade, he is a great player, he set his mark in the league, he is one of the best shooting guards ever, but like I said, I just thought, that as an older guy, it’s time to pass the torch to the younger guys.
“Just like somebody did to him, just like somebody did to me and I will have to do the same later on. So I just thought it was his time.”
Look, we can’t blame KD for being honest, it is after all what we want and it sure beats those tiresome rehearsed answers.
Only it’s no longer KD or Harden having a dig, there is still a mob of you out there who think Wade is Ol’ Man River with a rotten knee expected to blow out mid-season.
It’s true there were times against the Pacers we wondered if Wade had passed his expiry date, after passing the ball to the invisible man and tripping over himself countless times, you were only human to question his ability.
I’m not going to rattle off stats, rings or All-Star appearances for that would be clasping at the past to prove a point. None of that appears to be relevant for those calling for Wade to step aside and make way for the future.
It is only here and now, and only this season that will be of relevance in the doubters’ eyes.
Wade is 32 next January. For the love of god, I hope someone starts engraving his tombstone, I mean we haven’t got much time left.
Eerily as though he could almost predict the criticism, today he dropped his 15 minute documentary Journey to 3, a behind-the-scenes video into the moments post Game 6, his mentality towards training and what drove him to winning a third ring.
He also takes a moment to address the naysayers.
“If anyone wants to pick up a basketball and meet me at the gym, you can do that,” Wade states.
Not a bad job for an old man.
jboss
Guest
Is it possible(cap wise) if beasley and oden work out, the heat will either trade or amnesty bosh?
Tricky Dick
Roar Rookie
As you'll notice I have Horford on the roster, and in my last comment, I listed five of the guys you listed as clear contenders. I'm not much of a stat-head in basketball, but I recognize the validity of what you're saying. Garnett, Bosh and Griffin I don't have on my team because I don't like them, and I acknowledge the absurdity of that. I lived in Atlanta for 30 years, so I've watched Smith be a knucklehead for his entire career. He's a petulant knob of a person and his skill set is exciting, but limited. And he hoists up several pointless 3-pointers per game with the entire home crowd yelling "NOOOOOOO" every time he catches the ball outside the arc.
mushi
Guest
similar to what I said Astro... but i put a bunch of numbers and stuff with it so the roar have moderated it into the ether
astro
Guest
Sorry, but Boozer sticks out like a sore thumb on that list! The guy hasn't been an All Star since 2008, yet he makes the 'best of' team? In terms of PFs, its impossible to justify putting him ahead of Duncan, Aldridge, Griffin, ZBo and Bosh. Even guys like Josh Smith, David West, Serge Ibaka and David Lee (and his atrocious defence) are ahead of him!
mushi
Guest
I I’m not entirely certain it is that defensible stats wise. The numbers you are using were entirely a product of minutes meaning they illustrate opportunity not ability. You compare him on a per 36 minutes basis with other regular game time big men and he’s not a top ten in the assists or points. Even then the raw numbers are still terrifyingly simplistic as they hide a guy that probably shouldn’t have taken as many shots as he did. You look at his advanced stats – it was his worst year as a pro on the offensive end his TS% was below league average at 51% and that plus defensive rebounding have been his hall marks as a pro. +/- always shows him to be a liability on the defensive end, not David Lee levels but not great. His raw +/- showed the bulls scored more when he sat and had less scored against them – not the hall marks of a top player at his position. Boozer is the worst player in the bulls starting five. PF or “spacing bigs” I’d take ahead of him include, but aren't limited to, Bosh, Duncan, Aldridge, Griffin, Horford, Diggler, Ibaka, Millsap, Smith, Monroe, West, Garnett, Jefferson, Vucevic, Z-bo
Tricky Dick
Roar Rookie
A reasonable question, so a reasonable answer: Last year he was 5th among PFs in both scoring and rebounding, and 6th in assists and minutes per game. He's reliable on both ends of the floor. Duncan, Lamarcus Aldridge, Griffin, and Zach "Z-Bo" Randolph are the other contenders in my mind, and there's not much between them. Anthony Davis might be the best in 3-5 years. Boozer is a personal preference for sure, but I think one that's defensible, stat-wise.
mushi
Guest
It's a bit of stretch to say being worse than harden equals retirement. By that equation KD is actually saying that only the Rockets are entitled to field 5 players. I think wade as the focal point of an offense is probably still a better player than Harden two issues with that being he isn't the focal point of an offense and he isn't going to give you as many games.
mushi
Guest
Carlos Boozer?
Tricky Dick
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Wade is a Hall of Fame player, but wouldn't even be on the bench of a "best of" NBA team at this stage in his career. Mine would go Starters: PG - Chris Paul, SG - Lebron James, SF - Kevin Durant, PF - Kevin Love, C - Dwight Howard. Bench: C - Al Horford, F/C - Dirk Nowitski, F - Carmelo Anthony, F - Carlos Boozer, G - Russell Westbrook, G - Kobe Bryant, G - Tony Parker
Red Kev
Guest
While I can't say I'd be calling for Wade to retire, I am in agreement with Durant in that if I were picking a "best" side I'd select Harden ahead of Wade (and that's only 30% because of the beard).