Dwyane Wade: Back to Riley (#CavsLifer)

[SanduskyCav]

Since SanduskyCav felt compelled to silently disagree with my response, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit the absurdity of his original statement.

Wade's TS% / League Average / Differential

2013-14 .588 / .541 / +.047 (Final season with LeBron in Miami)
2014-15 .534 / .534 / ~.000
2015-16 .517 / .541 / -.024
2016-17 .508 / .552 / -.044
2017-18 .336 / .... / ....

- Wade's TS% “eroded” from 2013 to 2014
- It “eroded” further from 2014 to 2015
- And finally, it “eroded” even further from 2015 to 2016.

Fun fact: Last season, Wade's TS% was practically every bit as bad (-.044) as it was good back in 2013-14 (+.047).

PER / Decline

2013-14 22.0
2014-15 21.4 / -0.6
2015-16 20.3 / -1.1
2016-17 18.5 / -0.8
2017-18 0.2 / ....

- Wade's PER “eroded” from 2013 to 2014
- It “eroded” further from 2014 to 2015
- And finally, it “eroded” even further from 2015 to 2016.

Yep, move along folks. No “erosion” to see here.

You’ll eat your words. I’m not a pessimist Cavs fan like many on here. Going to give the team time to gel and work the kinks out. I’ll stop back in in December and see what are saying about Wade.

 

[MrHoops]

I didn't want Wade. However, if Lue is going to start Wade, Wade should be playing the pg position while Rose and IT are out.

 

[cavsfever]

awesome, our top team priority now is getting Wade up to 15 shots per game:

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...rs-guard-dwyane-wade-says-searching-role-team

What's the biggest difference this season for the 15-year veteran?

"My option," Wade said. "I've always been a [No.] 1 or 2 option. It's just a different game. You got to kind of figure out your way."

Cleveland's No. 1 option, LeBron James, said that integrating Wade is a priority.

"We got to get him going at some point," James said. "That's something we're going to look at and we're all trying to figure it out as well but we got to get him going and hopefully we can do that on Tuesday."....

Wade said he is a "rhythm player" and added, "I take a lot of shots," when explaining the transition he is going through. Wade is averaging just 8.3 attempts per game for the Cavs, about half of the 15.9 attempts he took for the Bulls last season.​

 

[CavsFTW]

You’ll eat your words. I’m not a pessimist Cavs fan like many on here. Going to give the team time to gel and work the kinks out. I’ll stop back in in December and see what are saying about Wade.

It's not pessimism. Wade's been in decline for YEARS. Each year worse than the previous. When the Bulls bought Wade out they were admitting a mistake had been made. They assumed Wade would turn things around with a change of scenery. Nope. Played even worse. Now three games with the Cavs Wade has likely strung together the worst 3 game stretch of his career. Will he keep playing this poorly? Probably not, but when taken as a whole, it's also probable that this season will likely go down as his worst yet.

 

[fan0283]

awesome, our top team priority now is getting Wade up to 15 shots per game:

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...rs-guard-dwyane-wade-says-searching-role-team

What's the biggest difference this season for the 15-year veteran?

"My option," Wade said. "I've always been a [No.] 1 or 2 option. It's just a different game. You got to kind of figure out your way."

Cleveland's No. 1 option, LeBron James, said that integrating Wade is a priority.

"We got to get him going at some point," James said. "That's something we're going to look at and we're all trying to figure it out as well but we got to get him going and hopefully we can do that on Tuesday."....

Wade said he is a "rhythm player" and added, "I take a lot of shots," when explaining the transition he is going through. Wade is averaging just 8.3 attempts per game for the Cavs, about half of the 15.9 attempts he took for the Bulls last season.​

Worst part is those extra shots are going to be ISO possessions, contested shots, fadeaways. These types of possessions don't improve the offense, they only improve the player's stats

 

[Dylan Windler's Mom]

This situation reminds me of Rondo in Dallas. You expend all this energy trying to think of some way to fit in a difficult piece who really has fallen off from his previous self. I remember analysts trying to convince themselves the Rondo playmaking from the elbow experiment could work, that you could stagger the ball handlers, that you could work around the spacing issues with Rondo’s awful shooting even though he joined he most efficient offense in the league. In truth they were just trying to placate a has been veteran who blew up the chemistry and blew up the team.

I don’t think this situation will escalate like that One did. Wade seems to get along great with the team. And I think once IT comes back they’ll just cut Wade’s minutes to the bone. Wade really does look like he has nothing left at this point.

 

[cavsfever]

Anyone who wants to see what relying on Wade looks like, check out the last four games of the Boston-Chicago series after Rondo went down and Wade tried to fill the role of the second best player on the team (after Butler):

14.2 PPG on 14.5 shots per game
33% from the field
18% from 3-point range
4 APG
5 RBPG
2 TOPG

there are still a few things he can do, he's a good passer and crafty at getting foul shots (the only reason his scoring looks borderline acceptable) and he has the occasional good game (game 5 in that series). But he just cannot score efficiently from the floor any more against a motivated defense.

The only way for him to be a really plus contributor is as a bench player who picks his spots against second string players, puts in effort on defense, and balances scoring with facilitating instead of trying to be a volume scorer. But unfortunately the article I linked above and the quotes I cited indicate that he is not ready for that, that he sees himself as a "rhythm player" who can and should be an offensive force if he just gets a lot of shots to "get his rhythm". If Lebron enables that attitude and he and Wade somehow forces the team to make Wade a starter and offensive focal point of the team then the guy could single-handedly ruin our season. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but not sure that it is -- the potential is there.

 

[SanduskyCav]

It's not pessimism. Wade's been in decline for YEARS. Each year worse than the previous. When the Bulls bought Wade out they were admitting a mistake had been made. They assumed Wade would turn things around with a change of scenery. Nope. Played even worse. Now three games with the Cavs Wade has likely strung together the worst 3 game stretch of his career. Will he keep playing this poorly? Probably not, but when taken as a whole, it's also probable that this season will likely go down as his worst yet.

Being surrounded with talent helps, it will help Wade as well. I guess we will have to let it play out. But I’m not giving up on him after three games.

 

[shoes22]

awesome, our top team priority now is getting Wade up to 15 shots per game:

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...rs-guard-dwyane-wade-says-searching-role-team

What's the biggest difference this season for the 15-year veteran?

"My option," Wade said. "I've always been a [No.] 1 or 2 option. It's just a different game. You got to kind of figure out your way."

Cleveland's No. 1 option, LeBron James, said that integrating Wade is a priority.

"We got to get him going at some point," James said. "That's something we're going to look at and we're all trying to figure it out as well but we got to get him going and hopefully we can do that on Tuesday."....

Wade said he is a "rhythm player" and added, "I take a lot of shots," when explaining the transition he is going through. Wade is averaging just 8.3 attempts per game for the Cavs, about half of the 15.9 attempts he took for the Bulls last season.​

This is what I’m saying I feared the other day. We’re focusing on interesting Wade so much to the detriment of all the other players on the team.

It won’t result in the most optimal offense.

 

[Cavatt]

Flying dead machine. He can't beat anyone of the dribble

 

[CavsFTW]

Being surrounded with talent helps, it will help Wade as well. I guess we will have to let it play out. But I’m not giving up on him after three games.

This isn't about giving up on him -- it's about keeping a realistic perspective.

Indeed, surrounding Wade with talent should help, but that argument applies to ANY player, mediocre or otherwise. For you, this needs to play out because you said it yourself -- Wade's game hasn't eroded. But that's bs and you know it. This isn't just about Wade's miserable 3 games as a Cavalier -- Wade's decline has been playing out for several seasons. He turns 36 in January, btw.

 

[CavzAddict]

Wade lookin like trash. im cool with that if it keeps Lebron in a Cavs uniform. i think our FO feels the same.

 

[Raja khan]

Its only game 3. We have a long way to go, I'm sure this team will figure out how to include Wade, whether its him starting or coming off the bench. Lets wait and see what happens when IT comes back.

 

[Jordan]

awesome, our top team priority now is getting Wade up to 15 shots per game:

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...rs-guard-dwyane-wade-says-searching-role-team

What's the biggest difference this season for the 15-year veteran?

"My option," Wade said. "I've always been a [No.] 1 or 2 option. It's just a different game. You got to kind of figure out your way."

Cleveland's No. 1 option, LeBron James, said that integrating Wade is a priority.

"We got to get him going at some point," James said. "That's something we're going to look at and we're all trying to figure it out as well but we got to get him going and hopefully we can do that on Tuesday."....

Wade said he is a "rhythm player" and added, "I take a lot of shots," when explaining the transition he is going through. Wade is averaging just 8.3 attempts per game for the Cavs, about half of the 15.9 attempts he took for the Bulls last season.​

I didn't read the article, but from what you posted, I don't think that's what it says?

It sounds like the Cavs want to get Wade better shots (smart), and one of his adjustments is not being a #1/#2 option. But I do not think it says the goal is to get Wade eight more shots per game.

Wade actually hasn't been as bad as people think. He played a huge defensive role in the win against Boston, and he was solid against Milwaukee. The biggest problem so far - especially against the Magic - is his offensive game really hurts the team.

He looks great with the bench lineups, especially when he is the lead facilitator, but Shump has started to take that role.

The Cavs need to start doing two things for Wade: first, running more plays with him as a PnR ball-handler that lead to an open floor; second, play him as the lead facilitator for the bench unit.

If they don't do that, though, I do see a problem with Wade starting and playing like this. I am not worried, yet. But, I do understand everybody's concerns.

 

[letgocavs]

I think wade will be fine. Not worried. His experience will be needed in June.