Dwyane Wade is adjusting just fine with his new role off the bench since his return to the Miami HEAT, scoring in double figures during the last 3 games, going to 2-1 in that stretch. Tonight the HEAT defeated the Pistons by a score of 105-96, and Wade’s 23 minutes off the bench leading a small lineup sparked the HEAT to victory.
While in Cleveland, Wade spoke about how strange it was to come off the bench and he wasn’t sure how he would react. In Miami, Wade appears to have bought into Spoelstra’s vision of using Wade in smaller impactful increments that still generate opportunities for him to take over a game when necessary. The formula is working so far in Miami, so I asked Wade how he felt about coming off the bench for a team he helped win three championships.
Coach Spoelstra compared Wade’s bench role to the time he spent as the 6th man on the 2008 Olympic team. Wade’s energy off the bench helped spur that 2008 team to a gold medal, and coach Spo is hoping that Wade’s bench role will spur Miami to a playoff berth.
Flip the page for more from Wade as he talks about meeting with the parents of Joaquin Oliver who was killed in the Parkland shooting.