Miami Heat Check

Michael Jordan knew Dwyane Wade had a real MVP case in 2009.

Wade was unbelievable that season, averaging 30.2 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks while carrying Miami back to the playoffs.

MJ said it best:

“I think Dwyane is a phenomenon — if he’s not talked in terms of the MVP then I think that they’re not really giving him a fair assessment of the MVP. No matter what you can say about his team — you take him away from his team I’m pretty sure they would not be as successful as you take away LeBron and you take away Kobe — I’m pretty sure those teams will still be competitive. Not to speak down on his teammates — just in terms of how much he represents offensively and defensively… this kid each and every day — if he’s not playing they don’t have a chance to win…”

Wade didn’t win MVP, but even Jordan believed he deserved more respect in that race.

Has Bam Adebayo already surpassed Jimmy Butler in Miami Heat history?

Bam has been the defensive anchor, franchise constant, and one of the most important Heat players of his era.

But Jimmy gave Miami legendary playoff runs and unforgettable Finals moments.

Pick one:
Bam’s consistency or Jimmy’s playoff legacy?

Chris Bosh shut down the idea that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade wanted Erik Spoelstra fired during the Heatles’ first season together.

Miami started the 2010-11 season under massive pressure, and after a rocky opening stretch, the noise around Spo got loud. Fans were chanting for Pat Riley to come back to the bench, but according to Bosh, the team never had some secret plan to get Spo fired.

“It was never a thing. It was getting so crazy… we gave Spo a rough time don’t get me wrong… the fans in Miami, it started at the home games and people were just like ‘WE WANT RILES’… we had to have a whole team meeting about that and Riles was like ‘I’m not coaching, this is our team’…”

Spo stayed, and Miami went to the Finals that year. Two seasons later, Spoelstra was a two-time NBA champion head coach.