Am I the only one that's tired of hearing this Shaq is massively helping Wade's numbers garbage, now he's obviously helping him as Shaq would help anyone's numbers, but some people just use it as a way of taking from Wade's accomplishments. <u>Let me break it down:</u> 1) Wade is getting more shots this season, about 3 more a game. 2) Wade is hardly taking any three's this season, last season Wade shot 47.7% on 2 pointers, he's only taken 2 three's this year, so attempted three's aren't affecting his FG% 3) Wade was also injured last season, and some of the injury spurts affected his numbers in terms of shooting and scoring. 4) Wade was a rookie last year, it's not unimaginable for his numbers to increase in his 2nd year 5) The new rules with hand touching fouls are allowing him to get to the line better just like they're with about every player in the league 6) He's improved his ball handling skills 7) He's improved his jumpshot which give him even more room to drive as defenders can't play him for the drive, and even when they did last year it didn't work. The only thing Shaq really helps him in is he allows him to get about 1-1.5 or so more assists a game from just lobbing the ball to Shaq, appart from that, nothing else really. In the beginning of the season some were saying Shaq will clog the lane so Wade won't be able to operate, not it's that Shaq takes away all defensive pressure from Wade so he scores easily?? Wade's TS% is 58.8%, Shaq's is 53.7%, he's even scoring more efficiently thant Shaq.
Well I wouldn't say to the extreme, but he does bump your stats up. He'll get you 2-3+ more assists just making good passes to him and allow you to get higher percentage shots (FG%/3PT% goes up 5-10% or more depending on the player actually landing their shots). SVG said it all<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There is no other player in the NBA that forces teams to change their defensive philosophy.</div> BTW Wade averages about 3-4 dimes a game just getting the ball to Shaq.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post"> <u>Let me break it down:</u> 1) Wade is getting more shots this season, about 3 more a game. 2) Wade is hardly taking any three's this season, last season Wade shot 47.7% on 2 pointers, he's only taken 2 three's this year, so attempted three's aren't affecting his FG% 3) Wade was also injured last season, and some of the injury spurts affected his numbers in terms of shooting and scoring. 4) Wade was a rookie last year, it's not unimaginable for his numbers to increase in his 2nd year 5) The new rules with hand touching fouls are allowing him to get to the line better just like they're with about every player in the league 6) He's improved his ball handling skills 7) He's improved his jumpshot which give him even more room to drive as defenders can't play him for the drive, and even when they did last year it didn't work. </div> Shaq doesn't really make Wade better, its the rest of the team he makes better(other than Edie Jones). Wade isn't a 3 Pt shooter. The 3 PT shooters are the ones who benefit most from Shaq so Kobe benefited more from Shaq than Wade did IMO. 1. Wade is getting 3 more shots this year because he gets more looks to an easy basket. 2. Wade isn't a good # PT shooter, thats why he doesn't take them. Its the same reason Shaq doesn't take 3's except that Wade is ALOT better. 3. Injuries had nothing to do with it, when he was injured he sat out, and I don't recall any games where WAde was playing thorugh some "intense" pain and if he did it was probably only a few games liek 3 which doesn't really make a difference, he sat out when he was injured. 4. Ya he should improve but hes imprving far better than any body thought he would. 5. That helps him not so much about 2 points more. Also Wade isn't the best FT shooter around 6. Yes he has your point? 7. Yes and do you know who he gets that shot? Shaq being there makes life easier for any body. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Wade's TS% is 58.8%, Shaq's is 53.7%, he's even scoring more efficiently thant Shaq.</div> THis may sound stupid, but what is TS? Shaq makes life easier for anybody. ^^I think we all can agree on that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">6. Yes he has your point?</div> He can get to the basket even easier than before....Shaq definately helps every single person on the team, but some people seem to go to the extreme in thinking Shaq is soleley making Wade do what he's doing. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">1. Wade is getting 3 more shots this year because he gets more looks to an easy basket. </div> Actually it's more because Odom is not here, and EJ's role on the team has decreased, which are all things I predicted would happen, Shaq doesn't need a lot of shots to score, he only takes about 13 shots a game, he takes less shots than Odom alone. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">2. Wade isn't a good # PT shooter, thats why he doesn't take them. Its the same reason Shaq doesn't take 3's except that Wade is ALOT better.</div> I don't think you understood why I put that there....lol <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">BTW Wade averages about 3-4 dimes a game just getting the ball to Shaq.</div> Can't be that much, Shaq is only assisted on 4.2 of his made FG's per game, their's no way Wade get's 75% or 100% of the assists to Shaq lol
I think Wade does benefit from having Shaq on his team. But he is still an amazing player and I dont see his stats going down too much if Shaq wasnt on his team. Having Shaq on his team should in no way take away from the accomplishments Dwyane has achieved.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Can't be that much, Shaq is only assisted on 4.2 of his made FG's per game, their's no way Wade get's 75% or 100% of the assists to Shaq lol</div> On nights where he gets 10+ dime he gets about 2-4 to Shaq. The nights below 10 he'll get the ball to Shaq 1-3 times. I'm not talking about his avg though (7.7apg). On his average he'll get about 1-2 from Shaq, which is what you said in your original post.
D Wade has sky rocketed this year.He is just a strait up better player then last season.But part of his sucess has to do with Shaq. Not only does it bring a lot of pressure off him, but it gives him open shots on the perimeter as well, this is the kind of effect that will occur anytime you have a good inside scoring threat, much less Shaq.
What amazes me though is how ppl deny history. Shaq always bumps his teammates stats up no matter how great you are, even MJ would've benefited from Shaq's presence and vice versa. The great ones always improve their teammates. At the same time though, Shaq benefits from Wade's presence as well. I'd put down money that Shaq's FG% will probably be the highest it's ever been in his career because Wade and the Heat are gonna make good passes to him and give him the easy bucket.
I think he has helped him in the mental sense. His approach and confidence in games are even greater then they were last year. It's like a disciple thing. Shaq is teaching him things and they are meshing well together and everything's all good, but you can't take the on-court skills that Wade posesses. Shaq is probably helping him in the assists department a little but everything else is Wade. The scoring is not really due to Shaq. Shaq benfits mostly 3 point shooting and Wade doesn't do that often. However, I think it frees up Wade to dirve to the basket when he kicks it out which can essentially lead to either points or assists for Wade. His steals and blocks are all acheived by him so no way Shaq should be commended for that. Wade made this happen for himself. He was a phenom in waiting last year and the arrival of Shaq has just given him the extra confidence and mental toughness that he needed.
I agree with spawn, I think Shaq has kind of guided him in a sense in addition to boosting his assist numbers and also giving him the slight increase in FG% which in turn will help the PPG if not by much, but at least a little, something like 0.3-0.5 points a game, which at the end of the season can be the difference in averaging 23.5 points or 24 points a game etc...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spawn:</div><div class="quote_post">I think he has helped him in the mental sense. His approach and confidence in games are even greater then they were last year. It's like a disciple thing. Shaq is teaching him things and they are meshing well together and everything's all good, but you can't take the on-court skills that Wade posesses. Shaq is probably helping him in the assists department a little but everything else is Wade. The scoring is not really due to Shaq. Shaq benfits mostly 3 point shooting and Wade doesn't do that often. However, I think it frees up Wade to dirve to the basket when he kicks it out which can essentially lead to either points or assists for Wade. His steals and blocks are all acheived by him so no way Shaq should be commended for that. Wade made this happen for himself. He was a phenom in waiting last year and the arrival of Shaq has just given him the extra confidence and mental toughness that he needed.</div> I agree too. Well, maybe Wade didn't take pressure when everyone including Shaq handed the team to him. I guess that only helped wade's confidence get bigger, made him work harder during off-season. Of course, Shaq has a lil to do with Wade doing so much better than predicted, but we all knew that Wade was gonna only get better and better and knew that he would put up superstar stats in the next 5 years. I guess it only happened sooner than we thought. Only thing i would ask of if I were Stan Van Gundy, would be to extend his shooting range until he's comfortable shooting 3s.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SVG said it all Quote: There is no other player in the NBA that forces teams to change their defensive philosophy. </div> That isnt true... Heres a quote from the Orlando Sentinel( it isnt exact but pretty close) Doc Rivers (Celtics Coach) said he changed his defense for these players. 1. Shaq because of his size 2. A.I because of his speed 3. K.G. because he is a freak of nature (in a good way)
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Only thing i would ask of if I were Stan Van Gundy, would be to extend his shooting range until he's comfortable shooting 3s. </div> I'm not so sure about that. When people get a consistent outside shot, they tend to fall in love with it (Vince Carter) and might run-off from thier strongest point (driving). I'm not sure if that will apply to Wade but only time will tell. I think he should get a consistent outside jumpshot as well but he has to make sure he doesn't fall in love with it cause the way he's playing right now, he's already dangerous. If he doesn't fall in love with a 3 point shot then he'll be flat out even deadlier.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spawn:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not so sure about that. When people get a consistent outside shot, they tend to fall in love with it (Vince Carter) and might run-off from thier strongest point (driving). I'm not sure if that will apply to Wade but only time will tell. I think he should get a consistent outside jumpshot as well but he has to make sure he doesn't fall in love with it cause the way he's playing right now, he's already dangerous. If he doesn't fall in love with a 3 point shot then he'll be flat out even deadlier.</div> Thats exactly what i was gonna mention...about VC but i didn't want VC's fans to come in here and start debating so but now that u mentioned, yeah i also hope that Wade doesn't fall in love with shooting 3s and eventually lose his penetration. But imagine Wade's game when he improves his range and learn good shot selection. He will be even better.
Their's nothing to debate about, VC became a pretty good outside shot, and thr thought was okay now he's a double threat to burn you off the drive of hit the shot on you if you step off him. Didn't work that way...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting OrlandoMagicFan:</div><div class="quote_post">That isnt true... Heres a quote from the Orlando Sentinel( it isnt exact but pretty close) Doc Rivers (Celtics Coach) said he changed his defense for these players. 1. Shaq because of his size 2. A.I because of his speed 3. K.G. because he is a freak of nature (in a good way)</div> AI? Was Doc Rivers joking? AI misses on his own. AI is one of the very few players who has big enough b---s to shoot 5-20 in a game. With AI, it's just get one player to guard him real good, guard the paint, and when he misses his shot, just grab the rebound. There's no point in dropping your defensive philosophy for Allen Iverson. That's what most people use to defend your average joe. I'll save the KG discussion for another day and just say most teams will be fine just leaving one body on him to stop him from getting the ball. If he does get the ball just protect the paint and force him to the J. He does warrant consideration of changing your defense, but most teams won't, and it won't be any drastic changes like it is when it comes to playing against Shaq. Shaq tends to demand a double team unless you have one big man that can try and guard him. If that's the case then they will usually have 1-3 other players near by ready to aid the other defender when Shaq attacks. If you leave one player around Shaq, his team will just keep pounding the ball to him because there is no player that can really guard him. That's why most teams are forced to drop there defensive philosophies when it comes Shaq. It's just a completely different game when he's on the court.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting OrlandoMagicFan:</div><div class="quote_post">I feel some biased opinions there...but thats just me...</div> Call it like you want dude. AI is a joke, he misses all on his own. If he were to make 15 of his 20 shots then it would call for a defensive change. That's not an opinion, you can go on NBA.com right now and look it up. KG is definetly debatable and if a team struggles against him they will make the proper adjustments, but most teams will do fine just leaving one guy on him and trying to stop him from getting the ball. Once he gets the ball more players become aware and will make an adjustment and be ready to protect the paint. That's not an opinion, go watch the next Timberwolves game and see if KG is being double teamed with out the ball. Chances are he's only got one defender in front of him trying to keep the ball away from him. Ofcourse teams will adjust to another team's strengths but KG isn't gonna force you to forget what you know about defense just to play him. Are you suggesting that KG demands that you change your entire defense to guard him like Shaq demands it?
I think Wade can be a consistant 3 point shooter this season, but thats just not his game. That really never has been his game, and I dont think it ever will be. A lot of people think of him as an MJ type player, but I see him more of a Magic mold. I think he is a freak, with amazing court vision that would flourish the way he is, on any team in the NBA. But Shaq does make it easier for him lol.
I actually thought court vision was one of Wade's weaknesses, that's one of the reason's he can't be a "true" PG, court vision is not something you acquire at later stages in your career, and Wade just doesn't have that, he's a good passer, but he doesn't have that ability to see a play 3 plays before it happens or to know exactly where one of his teammates will be etc. I don't know if he could, he's improved his shot, but in the mid-range area, he can hit it well from about 18 feet, but three point shooting isn't his thing. I don't think he should take three's if he's going to shoot less than 33%, I don't think anyone shooting less than that unless they're in a funk should be taking them.
