Re: Let's settle this Who is the mvp of the heat and why?I'm not sure about this actually but i'm leaning towards Shaq. I will explain later.
Re: Let's settle this Shaq but only because of defensive presence. He clogs up the lane and attracts a whole nother defender 100% of the time. I was just talking with some guys about how Wade wouldn't have had that 40 point game and all his driving points if not for Shaq.Wade needs to expand his repotoire so he can still dominate when Shaq leaves ala Kobe.
Re: Let's settle this I'll take Dwyane on this one, Shaq's presence is very important and all but Wade has shown he can lead the team. I'm sure the 10-11 record is going to be thrown at me but if I'm right that was during a road trip to the west where we had to face the Spurs, Mavs and so on. In his first season when he didn't have Shaq he lead the Heat to a 42-40 season and led us to the eastern conference semis. Wade has also shown he is more valuable in the playoffs, if we keep relying on Shaq this series would be a sweep, Wade saved us yesterday.In the long run it is clearly Wade but I think he is more valuable now then Shaq is who is injury prone.
Re: Let's settle this This is a tough one. While the Heat were 10-11 without Shaq, when he played Wade was clarly the man, and you can't give him all the credit. During their win against Dallas, while Shaq carried the Heat for 3 Quarters, DWade dominated in the 4th. I actually think they are as equal when playing. As we've seen, the Heat need good games from both against quality teams to win.
Re: Let's settle this Shaq even just based on his presence on the floor. Like you said, Miami was 10-11 without Shaq. Why? People knew how to guard them. Sure Wade is a tough handle, but just having Shaq on the floor creates more oppertunities for other players. People double and triple Shaq on the box, which leaves 1-2 guys open. And he is an exceptional passer from the post, so he usually hits the open man. Not to mention that when Shaq is determined to have a night, he will dominate the game. He can't do it every night any more, but he can still do it.Wade is a superstar though, and I'm not taking anything away from him at all, but even Wade will tell you it's Shaq's team and the team isn't the same whem he isn't around. Wade is a guarentee for having a good game almost every night, but guys like Walker can struggle at times, J-Will is a streaky shooter, GP/Zo are old, Haslem is solid but not a valid post option, and Posey just doesn't provide enough offense for a team to feed off him. So if there is a night where Walker or Williams are off, it's all Wade (if Shaq isn't there). If Shaq is there and Wade isn't, they obviously aren't as good a team, but Shaq can feed others the ball and open up easy oppertunities for them to get them going. Wade can too, but Shaq's physical presence is much more powerful.
Re: Let's settle this <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jun 15 2006, 02:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Shaq even just based on his presence on the floor. Like you said, Miami was 10-11 without Shaq.</div>That was on a west coast trip, we had to face the Spurs and other teams from the west. Even with Shaq, we usually don't fair very well against them. Shaq can't lead a team anymore by himself, when Wade first came to the Heat he lead then to eastern conference semis without Shaq and like I said, if we keep relying on Shaq in the Heat-Mavericks series we would've gotten swept.
Re: Let's settle this Wade didn't lead that team his ROOKIE year. Not even Lebron did. Was Wade even the leading scorer that year?As I recal Odom was having a career year, Caron Butler was playing great, Brian Grant was doing his thing, and Eddie Jones was a lock down perimeter defender.
Re: Let's settle this That team had multiple leaders, Wade was one of them and so was Eddie Jones. Wade is leading the team right now in the playoffs and has been since the Detroit series.
Re: Let's settle this Let's throw this stat in.Wade shot .440% the month shaq was missing. He effects wade's game to epic proportions also.
Re: Let's settle this I'll throw a few stats in myselfWade's first season (no Shaq) 47% from the fieldWade's second season (with Shaq) 48% from the fieldWade's last season (Shaq once again) 49%I can't stress this enough, we were facing teams from the west that is why he played so poorly. Also, judging by those stats Shaq hasn't made him much of a better shooter either.
Re: Let's settle this Obviously Shaq is the Heat MVP. He is a trouble for almost every team in the league and needs 2 or more players to guard. Like some of you mentioned, Shaq needs Wade and Wade needs Shaq. Big men like Shaq are rare to find in the league nowadays. Don't get me wrong. Wade is an exceptional piece to the Heat roster. Quick and explosive, but there are a lot of the same types in the league. That is why Shaq is the Heat MVP.
Re: Let's settle this I'm just wondering, why is it an excuse to shoot badly simply because you're playing western teams? I know the spurs, mavs and maybe memphis are good defensive squads.And one more thing, wade's worst shooting month was in November. Shaq missed every single game during november but one. I wasn't talking about your trip to the west.
Re: Let's settle this i think people overrate shaq too much.he's huge. but gimme a break, he isn't going to improve a team 10000000x w/ just his size! he might be a key leader and an inspiration to the team but he isn't what he was.dwyane wade has come in for the team time after time.
Re: Let's settle this <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Melo_061 @ Jun 15 2006, 05:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm just wondering, why is it an excuse to shoot badly simply because you're playing western teams? I know the spurs, mavs and maybe memphis are good defensive squads.And one more thing, wade's worst shooting month was in November. Shaq missed every single game during november but one. I wasn't talking about your trip to the west.</div>Shaq played in two games for the record, also I'm not sure if it was Wade's worst shooting month or not but without Shaq Wade lead us to a 8-5 record that month. So even if it was his worst shooting month he proved that he could lead the team without Shaq.
Re: Let's settle this Honestly though, the competition he was facing wasn't excatly good. He got wins over tornoto, the sixers,portland, New york and the hawks. The only playoff team the heat beat that month were memphis and new jersey.Shaq's Production also did not drop without wade, can't the say the same for wade without the big fella. So shaq's prescense as proven makes wade play better must give him an advantage.
Re: Let's settle this <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Melo_061 @ Jun 15 2006, 06:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Honestly though, the competition he was facing wasn't excatly good. He got wins over tornoto, the sixers,portland, New york and the hawks. The only playoff team the heat beat that month were memphis and new jersey.Shaq's Production also did not drop without wade, can't the say the same for wade without the big fella. So shaq's prescense as proven makes wade play better must give him an advantage.</div>No one ever said Wade isn't better without Shaq, everyone who plays with Shaq becomes a better player. The question is who is more valuable to there team, well both are pretty equal but I would take Wade, hes younger, isn't as injury prone as Shaq and can lead the team by himself. Also, someone said Wade can be replaced, no he can't. It's like saying you can replace LeBron with a "decent' swingmen, it takes away to much from the team.
Re: Let's settle this To me the most valuble player to the Heat is Shaq, at least for now. If Shaq has a huge game, and the role players do their parts, then the Heat will usually win. If Shaq has a bad night, and the roleplayers and Wade all do their thing, the Heat have a better chance of losing then winning. Just an opinion but right now Shaq is the more valuble player.
Re: Let's settle this Wade very close though because Shaq is big, his presence in the game always changes things.
Re: Let's settle this Neither is as good without the other, so really there is no answer. Then again, I understand all the arguements for everyones choices. W/o Shaq, the Heat were just barely a playoff team. With him, they are a championship contending team. However, Shaq has not been playing as well as he used to in LA and Orlando and Wade is pretty much carrying the team by himsef. Both are amazing players but I think I'd take Wade.
Re: Let's settle this <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Melo_061 @ Jun 15 2006, 05:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm just wondering, why is it an excuse to shoot badly simply because you're playing western teams? I know the spurs, mavs and maybe memphis are good defensive squads.And one more thing, wade's worst shooting month was in November. Shaq missed every single game during november but one. I wasn't talking about your trip to the west.</div>Wade has always shoot poorly early in the season. As the season progresses, his fg% goes up. Just a trend I noticed for his first 3 seasons in the NBA.
