3 reasons to be excited for the Miami Heat’s 2018-19 season

Father Prime Shoots Again

Between opening night in October and December 16, 2015, Wade hit seven 3’s.

For the remainder of the regular season, those seven triples turned out to be the only makes he’d record, marking a career-low in such field goals in a given season.

At the time, the stat wasn’t particularly jarring. Wade had always struggled from the 3-point line. His game was predicated on basket-attacking escapades, leaving the 3-point specialty to Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, Ray Allen and the like.

In the playoffs, Miami found itself locked in a bitter first round series with the Charlotte Hornets. The Heat were facing a 3-2 series deficit, overpowered by Charlotte’s versatile lineup and the contributing energy of a purple-shirted fanboy.

In Game 6 however, Wade flipped his Hall of Fame switch, electing to fire his first triple.

It went in.

Later that game, he fired again, now 2-for-2 while supplementing a team-high 23 points.

Until that point, Wade had advised himself against shooting 3’s. He recognized it as one of his weaker points and sought to make contributions elsewhere.

"“I’m shooting in-rhythm shots,” Wade said of his decision to shoot in the playoffs. “In the regular season, I didn’t even look to shoot them. See, everybody goes off of the numbers, but… the 3s I shot during the regular season were at the last-second I’d get it and have to throw it up. But now I’m just shooting rhythm shots and rhythm 3s, and you get a couple to fall and your confidence goes up. If I get them, I’ll shoot them again.”"

Those 3’s were the difference makers for Miami, boosting the team to win Games 6 and 7 in the first round, and stay competitive with the Toronto Raptors through six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

As an added bonus however, it seems the Miami Heat will be able rely on a similar output through the regular season.

Considering it is Wade’s final season, he can do no wrong.

The Heat aren’t exactly title contenders, and his forthcoming standing ovations – whether he likes them or not – will surely rustle Miami, which will be playing its final games with one of the NBA’s greatest shooting guards.

More than a bailout option, Wade’s continued embrace of the triple in his final season can be an inspiration to Miami’s rallying efforts.

Wherever the team lands in the playoff picture, another series of streaky 3’s from Wade can make for another season for the history books.