<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I look sharp, man," Wade said, having fun with the issue for some TV cameras. "Got a six-pack, yeah, that's me. This is me. Udonis [Haslem] looks a little funny, though. ... As a kid and all, you never thought you'd be on a comic book." As a kid, Wade probably didn't think he would be on the floor with O'Neal, either. Or on a team with Eddie Jones or Alonzo Mourning, or on a roster assembled by Pat Riley. But here he is, the Chicago kid and Marquette product helping the Heat dominate in the Eastern Conference. Miami is running away with the No. 1 seed, sparking all sorts of excitement in the city and among NBA marketing execs hoping for a little more sizzle in the finals than they got last spring out of Auburn Hills, Mich. Wade is the source of much of that excitement, with Pentium-fast moves and mini-tramp hops that make him every bit the matchup nightmare for the Timberwolves tonight that O'Neal presents. Penetration from opposing guards has filleted the Wolves' defense all season, and few guards penetrate as quickly and frequently as Wade. There's more: Wade, 23, is one of only three NBA players (with LeBron James and Allen Iverson) ranked in the top 10 in both scoring and assists, something only 10 other players have accomplished since 1979. He has led Miami 35 times in scoring (to O'Neal's 24) and 44 times in assists, has reached 30 points 10 times and has helped the Heat to a 34-10 mark when scoring 20 or more. At 23.9 points, he is outscoring his big buddy in the middle; Wade has taken 129 more shots than O'Neal, averages almost five minutes more per game and has made 150 more free throws. Yet he remains the sidekick that Shaq likes. Difficult as it is to picture O'Neal as some sort of Goldilocks, that's how the partnership with Wade has played out amongst the palm trees. Penny Hardaway, during O'Neal's stay in Orlando, was too sensitive. Kobe Bryant, despite three NBA championship rings in Los Angeles, was too independent. </div> Source
