The Heat need Wade to be healthy for the playoffs, so he has routinely taken a lot of days off during the season.
The question becomes will Wade be able to turn it on when the playoffs start, if he can’t the 3peat will be in serious jeopardy.
LeBron is finding life without Wade very similar to his time in Cleveland.
“With some of the guys being in and out, and with the concern with D-Wade, it’s been tough on all of us trying to fill that,” James said. “We’ve just got to be able to do a little bit more consistently, and go in with the mindset sometimes that he’s not playing instead of [he is] playing.”
“I’m not a doctor. I’m only a player, man,” James said. “I don’t know the [therapy] program he’s on. I do know that his knee, if he’s feeling good, he’s going to play. If he’s not feeling good, he doesn’t play. For me as one of the leaders on this team, I’ve got to make sure the guys that are prepared to play are ready to play. When D-Wade is ready to come back, then that’s what it is.”
“I can say from a rhythm standpoint, it’s kind of hurt us,” James said. “And we’re a team that’s built on rhythm, built on chemistry, and we’ve had so many lineup changes, so many different guys in and out with injuries that it’s kind of hurt our performance. We don’t like to use it as a crutch or as an excuse.”
“It’s tough, it’s tough,” James said. “And guys think it’s easy, but it’s tough.”
Injuries and age has derailed many potential dynasties, we will see if the Heat are next.