This is the third of a three-part AUCH series, all honoring Miami Heat legend and future Hall of Famer, Dwyane Wade; three contributors will be breaking down his top three performances based on the Pre-Big Three era, Mid-Big Three era, and Post-Big Three era.
Although we wish we could end the discussion by talking about The Big Three, we cannot.
Dwyane Wade did not cease to exist as a professional basketball player when those guys left/became unplayable.
He did play for Miami after James left town, but Chris Bosh was in and out of the lineup.
Wade also played for the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers before returning home.
So let’s review one his most iconic games before he left Wade County without its Figurehead.
April 29th, 2016 ECQF Game 6 vs. Charlotte Hornets
This contest is better known as the “Purple Shirt Man.”
This series was the first year Miami made the postseason after The Big Three era.
Of course, I sat down to watch every game since the Heat are my team. They made it to Game 6, but it was a win or go home situation.
The Heat certainly had to win this game in Charlotte, to get to the elimination Game 7 that awaited them back at the AmericanAirlines Arena in South Florida.
With all that said, this particular game was intense.
Charlotte got a significant scoring output from Kemba Walker with 37 points, and Al Jefferson with 18. The Heat had an okay game with no real stand out players.
Both teams ended up finishing with the same pace rating of 87.9, and it felt like it.
With the contest on the line entering the fourth quarter, Wade had to come in hot with no holds barred, and he did just that. The previous quarter saw Wade finish with zero points, on 0-for-4 shooting.
If the Heat were going to win, that had to change.
You would think that Father Prime enters the game right away with the season on the line, but alas time is undefeated.
He continues his drought three minutes into the fourth and is 0-of-6 at this point.
Thanks to some excellent team defense, the score was still tight (79-74). He’s starting to piece things together by following that made bucket with an assist to Hassan Whiteside, and a block on Marvin Williams with a recovered rebound.
With the intensity ratcheted up, Purple Shirt Man was in full trash talk mode, as he was standing for what seemed to be the entire quarter.
All veterans know that in the NBA, no lead is safe.
Father Prime enters the game with 4:21 remaining, with the understanding of “No matter what happens, I’m playing until the end.”
The Superman cape comes out, and the heroics begin.
With the Heat up 90-88, they have a terrible possession, and in desperation, Wade runs a pick and pop on the wing with Luol Deng.
The result?
Good defense by Courtney Lee and Cody Zeller not to switch.
The pass goes to Deng, but he’s covered. With a little more than 5 seconds left on the shot clock, he passes it back to Wade, expecting him to save the possession. Wade doesn’t hesitate and nails a 26 foot 3-point shot, over the late contesting arm of Lee.
Purple Shirt Man was not happy.
To put the game morally out of reach for the Hornets, head coach Erik Spoelstra dials up a Spain pick and roll disguised with a down screen and flare screen for Joe Johnson; beautiful play design to get Walker temporarily switched on to Wade.
While Walker and Lee are switching back after hedging the pick and roll, Wade simply sways to his left and gathers for the shot.
The defense is important to note here.
Since hedging the PnR requires both offensive players to be left unguarded for a second, Wade seized the opportunity and dropped in the dagger with another 26-foot, 3-point jumper.
This time, Father Prime doesn’t keep it strictly business.
He looks to the crowd, puts his guns in his holster, and woo’s down the court into the next defensive possession; he’s on fire.
Next possession, the Heat run a simple Wade PnR with Josh Richardson, essentially still targetting Walker and Lee.
They hedge and recover superbly, which puts Lee body-to-body with Wade at the left pinch post with a terminated dribble.
It was at this moment that Wade knew the Heat would live or die by this possession.
He pumps as he stops, spins on one foot and pulls up for an absolutely smothered shot from 18 feet.
The ball snaps through the net, and Lee throws his arms up in disgust, but he knew just like the fans in Charlotte knew, that the game was cooked.
Wade made sure to let Purple Shirt Man know that he still had it ,and that once again he’s got tricks in his bag. He finished that game with 23 points, six boards, and three blocks, and the Heat won by seven.
I stand by my opinion to this day, that if the Heat hadn’t caught the injury bug during the postseason, they would’ve faced James and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Dwyane Wade has earned every good thing that is coming his way during year 16.
He is a generational talent and is a top three shooting guard of all-time.
I’m happy that he decided to do one final year; it’s great to finish something on your terms, so do me a favor… if the Heat come to your hometown, be sure to cheer extra hard for No. 3
It’ll be the last time you see him on a basketball court.