The White T-mac

Dwayne Wade is in the USA games, but it is clear that Carmelo is doing the best in FIBA. However, the media continues to act is wade is such a superstar on the USA team. Even after Carmelo sets a USA record in scoring, Wade is still getting babied by media, instead of refs. here is an example:

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) -- Dwyane Wade sized up the U.S. roster and decided how he could best make a difference: on the bench.

That seemed like a strange place for a player just two months removed from winning the MVP award at the NBA finals. But it made perfect sense to Wade, who is just as comfortable fitting in as he is standing out.

"It's something that I wanted," he said. "This team is very deep, and of course Coach can start me at any time with these guys. But me coming off the bench gives us another dimension and I love it."

So did the rest of the Americans, who went 5-0 during pool play before moving on to meet Australia on Sunday in the round of 16.

Once Wade settled on his plan, he discussed it with fellow captains LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and told them he was bringing it to U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Krzyzewski quickly went along with the idea. He saw it as a way to separate Wade, James and Anthony -- all needing plenty of shots -- while giving him a bona fide scorer to lead his second unit.

Anthony wasn't as easily convinced, recalling his first thought when he was told of the plan.

"First? He ain't doing that," Anthony said. "That was my first impression.

"Then once I sat down and really thought about it, I said, 'How do you feel about that?' He was like, 'I think it will be better for everybody,' and it has been. Not that we don't want him out there with us in the first group, but him coming off the bench is like instant offense, especially with that group that he comes off the bench with."

Playing primarily with Kirk Hinrich, Elton Brand, Antawn Jamison and Joe Johnson, Wade averaged 21.4 points during pool play. That ranked fourth in the tournament behind fellow NBA All-Stars Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol.

The question is how long Wade would keep his super sub role as the games grew tougher.

The Americans were in serious trouble only once during pool play, when they trailed Italy by 12 points early in the second half. When the U.S. took the floor for the third quarter down 45-36, Wade was out there with the starters instead of sitting with the reserves.

Wade finished with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting, and his penetration helped free Anthony, who scored an American-record 35 as the U.S. rallied for a 94-85 victory.

"We were down at halftime, we said, 'Look D-Wade, get back out there,"' Anthony said. "And we came back out there and we turned it around."

Krzyzewski said after practice Saturday that Wade would play "significant minutes," and his two-team rotation wouldn't be used for the elimination rounds.

But Wade, a bag of ice on his right wrist after a hard fall against Italy, wouldn't say when he would make his first appearance on the court.

"I don't know if I'm going to start or come off the bench, but that'll be a decision that me and Coach will make," Wade said. "Right now we've been making the right decisions with me coming off. If that continues, I'm fine with it. If not, I'm fine with getting in the starting lineup. So we'll see."

Wade sat out the final game of group play, an easy victory over Senegal, and played only 21 minutes a game in his four appearances. He surely welcomed the extra rest after he spent the spring getting knocked around while leading the Miami Heat to the NBA championship.

But the Americans need him now -- however they decide to use him.

The U.S. got off to slow starts during almost every game in the first round, but was able to overcome them because of an abundance of talent and depth.

They may not have that luxury as the field continues to shrink, so Krzyzewski will have to decide if his team is at its best with Wade as a starter or reserve.

"I think he was being a good team guy and saying, 'Look, you don't have to start me, I'll come off the bench,"' Krzyzewski said. "He'll do whatever you want him to do. He's a champion."

TheFamily24

No suprise.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Camby

Explain to me the overrated part of this thread please because I'm not finding how D-Wade's so overrated. So what if he's coming off the bench & still averaging over 20 ppg? Unlike a lot of NBA superstars in the league, he doesn't have a huge ego & he knows that he can take over a game at will night in & night out, but he's a team player/leader. That's what sets him apart as being one of the key guys for the NBA's future.

The White T-mac

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DNuggets Boy @ Aug 26 2006, 08:20 PM) [snapback]18889[/snapback]</div>no huge ego? whenever he makes a lay up he looks at the camera for 5 minutes. Melo is doin better than Wade, and he isnt getting as much attention. its bullshit.

Dezmatic247

Very true! I used to like Wade but now I cant stand him because of his arrogance and cockiness that is Jordan-esque. No im not copmparing him to Jordan but the cocky attitude that I dont like is in them both now

__________________
*Note* This is not me, I am equipped with male parts

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

The White T-mac

if somebody looks at him the wrong way, FOUL! and he gets away with soooo many things. he can take 5 or 6 steps before its a travel.

TheFamily24

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(The White T-Mac @ Aug 26 2006, 08:47 PM) [snapback]18895[/snapback]</div>
Don't forget he stays on the floor and looks at the camera for another converse commercial.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(The White T-Mac @ Aug 26 2006, 10:10 PM) [snapback]18923[/snapback]</div>
I remember dyess commented on that after one of the playoffs games last seaosn. I don't remember his exact words but he said something like it's like it's impossible to check him because if you breathe on him it's a foul, but you have to check him because he's going to knock the shot down. It's ridiculous how they baby wade, and me personally... IM SICK OF IT

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

The White T-mac

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TheFamily24 @ Aug 26 2006, 10:19 PM) [snapback]18924[/snapback]</div>lmao thats awesome.....

KirkHinrich12

Wade isn't that great!! King James is better. Call me a homer if you want, but I think whoever said Hinrich is a poor man's Steve Nash is right. I think he'll make Chicago's engine run the way Nash has in a few years, more than Wade. Once Shaq and Riley retire, and the Heat become his team, we'll see how he does. There isn't any other coach who can command the respect that Riley does. Like say Stan Van Gundy ordered Shaq to lose 30 pounds. I don't think he would, b/c he doesn't command the respect Riley does. IMO, Wade isn't that good. To me, it's a lot of hype.