<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">WASHINGTON ? It was the perfect time for Dwyane Wade to deliver his State of My Left Shoulder Address. Standing outside the White House on Tuesday after President Bush honored the Heat's NBA championship, Wade joked that he was "high on medication'' before delivering some straight and sobering news. "The reports are accurate,'' said Wade, whose arm is in a sling. "It's eventually surgery. But it's also an opportunity in there where I can opt for rehab and therapy and make it stronger and be able to make a return by the end of the season.'' Wade, speaking for the first time publicly since dislocating his shoulder last week at Houston, said he'd seek a second medical opinion "in the next day or so and make my decision shortly after that'' about immediate surgery or waiting until after the season. Wade said he is concerned about the risk of long-term damage if he comes back this season and aggravates the shoulder, but "there's always the 'what if.' "If there's a situation where you decide to come back, you can't think about the 'what if.' '' The Heat (27-29) has lost three of its four games since the All-Star break and it's 1-2 since Wade, who is averaging 28 points per game, was injured. Miami plays at division-leading Washington tonight. Miami plays 15 of its final 25 games at home with only four sets of back-to-back games; Washington plays 14 of its final 25 games on the road with eight sets of back-to-backs. And while the Heat is without Wade, the Wizards are without forward Antawn Jamison (sprained knee), their third-leading scorer, and All-Star forward Caron Butler (back spasms), the team's second-leading scorer. Wade said Tuesday he's not in pain, but joked, "I'm high on medication. I really don't know what I'm saying.'' More seriously, he said he's feeling OK.</div> Source
I don't see how coming back would be beneficial to the Heat, at all. Wade's game mainly consists of driving and getting to the FT line. He's going to take some hits if he does that, hits that could possibly further damage his shoulder. He needs to stop being stupid and get the surgery. Why do I have the feeling that Pat Riley is playing devil's advocate and trying to convince Wade to come back?
Surgery right now is the best option. He's going to have it eventually, and as a Heat and Wade fan, I don't want to see him come back after rehab and potentially damage his shoulder again. He has to think beyond this season, although, time is running out with Shaq on the squad. Like Mamba said, with all the hits he takes as a result from driving, it's more likely for him to re aggravate the injury more so than anyone else.
If Wade gets surgery, Pat Riley will probably get it with him. Seriously though, at least he's got a head on his shoulders. He seems to understand the long-term ramifications of playing without surgery. Most athletes don't think a couple years down the road when they make decisions like these.
