El Miami Heat anunció el despido de Rodney McGruder tras la derrota ante los Toronto Raptors.
¿Sorprendidos? Muchos de los que seguimos al equipo sí..
¿Porqué en este preciso momento?
El famoso tope salarial era la principal razón de esta extraña movida, y algunos analistas de Five Reasons asomaron la posibilidad de que este fuera un golpe letal a lo que se le llama la “cultura” del Miami Heat.
A falta de dos juegos solamente para que termine la carrera de Dwyane Wade con el Miami Heat (a menos que pase algo improbable), se asoma la posibilidad de que ese concepto, que ha sido clave en la manera de construir esta franquicia en los últimos años, se deje en el abandono.
¿Fue el despido de Rodney McGruder la clara señal de que el equipo va en otra dirección?
¿Quién mejor que él para personificar lo que en escencia es la cultura del Miami Heat?
Ese fue el tema principal del episodio 29 de Cinco Razones Podcast, en la víspera del último juego de Wade en el American Airlines Arena:
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/HeatBench.jpg507800Alejandro Villegashttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlejandro Villegas2019-04-08 20:19:512019-04-09 15:48:02¿Se acabó la Cultura del Miami Heat?
Paul Pierce and the rest of the late 2000s, early 2010s Boston Celtics have always had an inflated sense of self.
They won one championship together, but you’d think it was 12. They felt they owned Ray Allen, like, literally. They believed they were in LeBron James’ head, right until he dropped 45 on them in their building of blowhards when the Celtics might have ended the Heat’s Big Three right there and then.
But Pierce, oh, Pierce. He’s really big market Alex English and slightly lower budget Carmelo Anthony, but somehow he’s always been the biggest blowhard of the bunch; at least Kevin Garnett was actually a top-3 player at one point. And last night, on ESPN’s pre-game show, he couldn’t help putting himself ahead of Dwyane Wade in terms of career accomplishments.
Pierce 10 All-Stars 4x All-NBA 0x All-Defense 1 Ring
— Chris Martin Palmer (@ChrisPalmerNBA) April 6, 2019
Story on Dwyane Wade to compare his humility to Paul Pierce… I recall writing a story in 2012 about him being the 3rd best 2-guard ever. And asking him in front of LeBron.
Wade: “really? U think so?”
LeBron: “yeah, man. Of course.”
— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) April 6, 2019
Dwyane Wade estará en boca de todos los fanáticos de baloncesto en el mundo durante la última semana de acción en la NBA.
El Miami Heat se juega la clasificación en los últimos cuatro juegos de la temporada.
Probablemente Wade llegue a su último partido en Brooklyn sin estar seguro si realmente esos serán sus últimos lances sobre un tabloncillo del mejor baloncesto del mundo.
¿Cómo será la vida de Dwyane Wade después del retiro?
El momento del retiro de cualquier jugador profesional es algo dramático porque incluye no solo dejar de hacer lo que mas le gusta, pero le da un vuelco entero a la manera de vivir el día a día.
“Voy a necesitar terapia. Siempre estuve en contra de que alguien que no me conoce me diga como vivir mi vida, pero voy a necesitar a alguien con quien hablar al respecto”, respondió Wade cuando Rachel Nichols, de ESPN, le preguntó sobre ese tema. “Va a ser un gran cambio. Le dije a mi esposa. Yo necesito terapia. Nosotros necesitamos hacer terapia. Va a ser diferente”
“Quiero ver en qué puedo ser bueno. Hacer un poco. de todo. Estoy emocionado por lo desconocido. Vamos a pasar mas tiempo el Los Angeles. Hay muchas cosas con las que he tenido que ser un ajuste en mi mente,” dijo un muy serio Dwyane Wade, acompañado por su esposa Gabrielle Union y su hija mas joven Kaavia.
Su tour de despedida
Dwyane Wade ya tenía tomada la decisión de retirarse cuando terminó la temporada 2017-18, pero unas conversaciones con Carmelo Anthony y Chris Paul lo hicieron cambiar de parecer.
Convencieron a Wade de regalarnos un año mas para celebrar su carrera, y hemos visto un tour lleno de momentos emocionantes en todos estadios de los Estados Unidos.
“Uno siempre tiene una idea de como le gustaría que se dieran las cosas, pero cuando la realidad supera lo que uno había imaginado, es una experiencia extraordinaria”, afirma Dwyane Wade en la entrevista con la presentadora de The Jump. “Mi esposa no me va a dejar poner todas esas camisas. Creo que tendré que comprar otra casa,” bromea el mejor puesto dos de la historia de la NBA después de Michael Jordan.
La incertidumbre de no saber cuál será su último juego
La despedida definitiva de Wade puede ser con una dolorosa derrota en Brooklyn o en los playoffs.
Todo parece indicar que ese duelo directo entre el Miami Heat y los Brooklyn Nets el miércoles 10 de Abril definirá el destino de ambos equipos.
Dwyane Wade llegará al que puede ser su último juego con el Heat con el escenario que no quería vivir, sin saber exactamente si esos disparos al aro son los finales en su carrera.
Sobre su despedida, Wade no tiene expectativas tan altas.
“Kobe puso la barra muy alta, creando la expectativa de que uno se debe retirar anotando 60 puntos en su último juego. ¿Quién hace eso? Solo Kobe. Yo me voy a despedir de la manera en la que Dwyane Wade está supuesto a despedirse,” dice Wade sobre esos últimos minutos. “Ayuda que estamos en la carrera por los playoffs, porque así solo me enfoco en ganar, pero voy a tratar de anotar unos 40 puntos”
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/WadeHeatChest8002.jpg439583Alejandro Villegashttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlejandro Villegas2019-04-05 18:59:522019-04-05 21:19:50Dwyane Wade: “Voy a necesitar terapia cuando me retire”
It is the season for nostalgia when it comes to Dwyane Wade.
We’ve done our share on the Five Reasons flagship podcast, Miami Heat Beat has done plenty of its own on podcasts and videos (check THIS out), and naturally the Heat have hyped plenty about #OneLastDance.
We have felt that the national media have been a little slow to this story. Yes, Sports Illustrated just published a cover story, and sure there was plenty of coverage of Dwyane and Dirk at All-Star Weekend. But it’s been nothing like the attention afforded to Kobe Bryant’s farewell, and he was broken (and kind of an arrogant a– at times).
Yet you turn on ESPN today and they’re talking about LeBron. Of course.
And TNT is choosing to show a Celtics game rather than Wade’s last home game, next Tuesday against Philadelphia.
— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) April 5, 2019
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Wade-smiling-scaled.jpg17072560Ethan Skolnickhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgEthan Skolnick2019-04-05 17:05:152019-04-05 17:05:15Need the chills? Here’s another Wade video
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson could miss up to two weeks after sustaining a groin injury last night against the Celtics.
Sources: MRI on Miami guard Josh Richardson’s groin reveals no damage, but he could miss two weeks — which is an obvious blow to Heat’s chances of securing a playoff spot in final days of season.
This is the second major injury that has affected the stretch run for the Heat, after Justise Winlow missed 9 games with a thigh injury.
Now with Richardson out, and season deciders against Minnesota, Toronto, Philly, and Brooklyn still to play, you’re left to wonder if the Heat can make up the half game difference between themselves and the 3 teams in front of them for the final playoff places in the Eastern Conference.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Josh-Richardson.jpg7621000Chris Wittynghamhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgChris Wittyngham2019-04-04 13:17:482019-04-04 21:41:06Report: J-Rich may miss rest of regular season
Channing Frye is a popular figure…. and a Goran Dragic fave.
So is Jared Dudley.
Khris Middleton?
Our Nekias Duncan (pictured left below) has more than a man crush.
He has a restraining order against him from the Bucks forward.
(Maybe. Maybe not. But he should.)
But Wade, Haslem’s teammate since 2003, had it right.
Congrts to all the nominees but this award has @ThisIsUD written all over it. Y’all know where my vote is going and it’s not because he’s my brother it’s because i get to witness it everyday. He’s an everyday leader for us. https://t.co/W8lNgKw38K
There’s no one else on that list who repeatedly stayed with the same team, offseason after offseason, taking less money until recently. Sixteen years in all. There’s no one else who is feared inside the locker room by those 50 pounds heavier. There’s no one else who would have done this:
— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) July 2, 2018
Oh, and there’s this:
He follows @MiaHeatBeat on Twitter.
If that’s not taking one for the team, nothing is.
(Feature photo by Tony Capobianco at a Dolphins/Bears game, where Haslem tolerated Wade.)
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Wade-and-UD-scaled.jpg17072560Ethan Skolnickhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgEthan Skolnick2019-04-03 16:17:582019-04-03 16:24:12Who’s second to UD for teammate of the year?
Dwyane Wade’s long time cinematographer Bob Metelus (@MistaDubb) joined Ethan Skolnick and myself for today’s Five Reasons podcast. Metelus is currently working on a documentary chronicling Wade’s final season in the NBA.
In the episode, Metelus tells great stories about life with Wade over the last decade plus, including some trips abroad that demonstrate just how big of a star he is…. something even Wade hasn’t always realized.
But among the more interesting parts of the episode is just how the #OneLastDance video came together, and just how much everyone around Wade was convinced he was retired. The story’s a bit long but, just like Wade’s career, worth every second.
Check out the clip below and make sure to listen to the full episode.
And in case you forgot how that video turned out….
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dwyane-Wade-Jersey-Exchange.jpg762999Chris Wittynghamhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgChris Wittyngham2019-04-03 06:00:202019-04-03 06:10:47Dwyane Wade’s Return Video, the Untold Story
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst joined the Five Reasons podcast today and had high praise for Dwyane Wade’s #OneLastDance.
The jersey exchanges, 4th quarter moments, and consistently good play have provided for one of the bright spots in an NBA season filled with unhappiness league wide, Windhorst says.
“My memory of this season is just Dwyane smiling night after night after night. It’s been the model way to handle a retirement.
He’s not going to get a ring for this season, but he won this season. He won it. People will remember this departure forever.”
You can hear the full clip on Wade below. You hear the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dwyane-Wade-2-1.jpg7621001Chris Wittynghamhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgChris Wittyngham2019-04-02 06:30:062019-04-02 10:07:05Windhorst: Dwyane Wade Won The NBA Season
Nothing in the standings sense, anyway. Everyone in the East’s super-soft middle lost.
So even though the Heat fell 110-105 in Boston, Miami remains in 8th in the East, now with just five games remaining — including a rematch with the Celtics in Miami on Wednesday. And it doesn’t appear Josh Richardson will play in that one either. Justise Winslow is closer to questionable.
Miami fell behind 20-4 early in this one, and a Goran Dragic-led surge wasn’t enough, especially after two questionable calls involving Kyrie Irving late in the fourth quarter.
That Kyrie 3-point play is a charge if anyone else on the #Celtics did it
Last month, it was time for Justise Winslow to see the t-shirt in person.
Last month, we noticed that Justise Winslow liked an Instagram post by @ejskolnick showing off the shirts that Miami Heat Beat had created in his honor. So it was time to show him the shirt, and print up some for his teammates — and fellow Kids — Josh Richardson and Bam Adebayo.
