Semi-OT: JVG predicts Heat will break Bulls' 72 Win record

it's not bs. Wade is forced to play off of the ball and is forced to wait for LBJ to set him up, at least in the offense they are playing. that's why he's been so mediocre, he's not used to playing off of the ball so much. until lbj starts getting him better looks, wade is going to continue to struggle. or until he switches roles with lbj.

 

No he's not, his shots are unassisted which is exactly the opposite of what you just said. He goes one-on-one, then later LeBron goes one-on-one. The Heat's offense has no movement, that's where Phil Jackson would help them out.

He was playing just fine until the wrist injury in Charlotte, then he went 7-43 after missing the Grizz game with injuries. He's injury prone, and they have no chemistry. Not a good combination.

 

Um, no, it is exactly what I said. Wade is going isolation too much, and he isn't getting the same number or touches and isn't getting into a rhythm. If Wade's numbers are going to improve, it will be because he is getting better opportunities in the flow of the offense. I think we were both saying pretty much the same thing.

 

Lower usage rate is not off the ball. Off the ball implies a certain playing style.

Wade is still getting assisted on 27% of his shots, the same as his prime season in 2009. Wade might have a lower usage rate since he's not racking up assists, but he's not being set up by anyone.

Set up is how Chris Bosh plays. He waits to catch the ball and takes jumpers (pretty good shooter too), or they find him in the paint for a nice finish. The rest of his shots he creates facing up and going to the rim (or taking a nice fadeaway), a couple of post moves every once in a while, etc. Chris gets assisted on over 60% of his shots.

That's a more traditional off the ball player. They all have to share the ball, and their playing styles aren't meshing perfectly on the perimeter yet.

 

Wade is absolutely playing off of the ball way more this year than he ever has in his career. Whether he stops the offensive flow and goes isolation once he gets the ball in no way affects what he did for the first 15 seconds of the shot clock. Last year every play was somebody walk the ball up and throw it to Wade 9 seconds into the shot clock. This year the heat throw it to lbj first as much as they throw it to Wade. But I have a feeling you are going to disagree.

 

Well clearly he's not touching the ball the same amount of time, you're right. I just think "off the ball" is a confusing and an informal way to describe it. I'd say he has less responsibilities, and therefore has a lower usage rate.

But no one is creating extra offense for him this season. He has a different role certainly, where he has less distributing responsibilities. That's a better way of explaining it. Off the ball makes me think of Ray Allen or Chris Bosh. He's not really changed his playing style much at all, he's just touching the ball less which is normal.