It is the dog days of summer folks, the NBA Finals are over, meaning now all NBA eyes turn to free agents and the draft. But with zero picks in the draft, that being over now anyways, and free agency mulled over ad nauseam, it is that special time of year when we look back into the caverns of NBA history, finding and polishing the gems from years past.
For the next few weeks, we will look back at some significant games in Heat history, some Miami Heat Moments, to break the monotony of the offseason grind and hopefully bring a smile to your face as you gloat over victories won in another life.
For today’s moment of glory from days gone by, we head back to February 12th, 2006. We venture back for a Detroit Pistons vs. Miami Heat game.
This was a clash pitting the 2005 Eastern Conference Finals opponents against each other. The Pistons looked good, starting the season 41-8 heading into the game.
On the flip side, the Heat were still licking their wounds, coming off a 36-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The suffocating defense of the Pistons did exactly what you would expect, choking the Heat’s offense early and leading by 13 points after three quarters.
Detroit looked good and (I’m sure) felt comfortable. The team was on an 85 game winning streak and leading by, at least, 13 heading into the fourth.
Flash had other plans though.
Miami Heat Moments: Dwyane Wade Torches Detroit
Some key play from Shaquille O’Neal helped the Heat claw back into the fight, trailing just 88-83 with 7:04 left. Then, Dwyane Wade happened all over the Pistons.
That’s right, it is summertime, and I’m a psychopath; we are going bucket for bucket with Wade on his final 17 points.
- Wade comes off a screen on the left side to take a shot from the elbow. 90-85
- After shaking a defender at the top of the key, Wade splits defenders in the air, going under and up for a kiss off the glass and two points. Count it with the and-1. 90-88 (this basket was nuts, he travels 10 feet in the air, like some suspension magic trick)
- Add a few more at the line; there are now just three minutes and 27 seconds left. 90-90
- Wade clutches an offensive rebound off a miss, jumps from one end of the basket to the other, finishing the reverse. 93-92 (The only reason he was able to snag this board was pure speed)
- A beautiful stepback off the elbow for another smooth bucket. 96-94
- Udonis Haslem offloads the ball to Wade on a broken play. The Marquette standout lofts up the prettiest floater. 98-96 (Friends bail out friends on plays so broken down, that a used cars salesman wouldn’t touch them)
- A hard drive and swift stop opens up the pull-up for Wade (55.3 seconds left). 98-98
Then, there was the shot that did them in.
Miami Heat Moments: Dwyane Wade Finishes Detroit In Huge Comeback Win
For the final bucket that did them in, it deserves its own blurb.
A miss gives Miami the ball with just over 25 seconds left. The assassin, who had persecuted Detroit all night, strolls down the court.
You see, all night long, Wade tightened his grip around the Pistons, choking them out. Similar to an Anaconda, quietly squeezing the life from its hapless prey.
Now, it was time for the finishing, crushing move—time to draw the soul out of the victim. Wade fades left, fades right, takes the screen, glides up, letting his momentum push him back off the elbow on the left.
The shot goes up, smooth like butter, smooth like fresh cream, smooth like every silk you’ve been told about from a faraway place. Bucket!
The Game would finish 98-100. The greatness of the Miami Heat’s greatest player ever had propelled them to victory, as it had and would so many times across his career.
This was just of many great Miami Heat Moments though. Hopefully, there are many more to come.