But in the 13 games since that news [Chris Bosh out for the season] came down...much of Miami’s success of late — [comes] courtesy of a fourth-quarter scoring surge by Dwyane Wade, who told ESPN.com’s Chris Wallace that he’s feeling better than ever:
Dwyane Wade credits improved health and a recent change in his workout routine as the driving forces behind his recent surge in production amid the Miami Heat’s push to make the playoffs.
“This is the best I’ve felt in years right now,” Wade said Wednesday. “You question it. And you try not to question it, like ‘Why? Why couldn’t I feel like this the last two years?’ But it is what it is. I’m feeling like this now, when I need it individually to (carry) more of a load to help this team.”
The quiet moment of reflection for Wade came as he sat in his locker after he scored 32 points to help rally the Heat late in a 108-104 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was the seventh consecutive game Wade has scored at least 25 points, marking his longest such streak since eight in a row in 2010.
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Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the team’s strategy has been simplified in recent weeks as Wade started to regain his form after dealing with three separate hamstring injuries before the All-Star break.
Wade has averaged 29.1 points and shot 53 percent from the field over the last seven games.
This is great; and I, personally, have loved seeing the energetic side of Wade that we really haven't seen in the last few years. We all know he has worked to adapt his game to a more methodical and cautious approach to spread his final years out more. But, part of what made so great in the first place was his explosiveness. Add that to the fact that he always stood up and showed up for the fourth quarter. That's the Wade we knew of old. But, the question at hand is, can Wade keep it up to get us to, and potentially get us through, a round of the playoffs? Not only his health, but his stamina and mentality. Will this last? Or is this a spark of what used to be a flash?
nba.com
