Dwyane Wade received extensive knee treatment during the Miami Heat’s off day on Tuesday, and he is now questionable for Game 5 against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. The Heat can finish off the Bulls and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win.
Wade’s receiving treatment after colliding with the Bulls’ Jimmy Howard in the second quarter of the Heat’s 88-65 win in Game 4 on Monday night. Head coach Erik Spoelstra said Wade will be re-evaluated by the team’s medical staff after treatment on Wednesday to decide if he’s game ready.
The Chicago Bulls looked to be on the right track with a win in South Beach in Game 1 despite injuries to Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich. The Bulls have also been without Derrick Rose for the entire regular season and the playoffs.
LeBron James and company picked up the pressure in Game 2 and have since strung off three straight wins to push the Bulls to the brink of elimination. The Heat transformed their game over night to keep pace with the Bulls’ aggressive style and it’s paid off leading up to Game 5.
Dwyane Wade’s status raises concerns for Miami going forward in the playoffs though they are only one game away from the conference finals. The risk of further injury to Wade’s knee has to be considered when the Heat look at the big picture, which is to defend their NBA title.
Anything less than another ring would be disappointing for everyone involved with the organization as expectations rise when you have this kind of talent on the court. Spoelstra isn’t ready to count out Wade for Game 5 just yet, though any signs of discomfort Wednesday morning could quickly change his mind. He addressed reporters at American Airlines Arena about the situation on Tuesday during a practice session.
“His status hasn’t changed,” Spoelstra said about Wade’s knee injury. “We all know what he’s dealing with. He’s day to day. We’ll evaluate him today. We’ll evaluate him tomorrow and go from there.”
Should the Miami Heat give Dwyane Wade more time to rest his knee as they currently hold a two-game lead over the Bulls?
[Image via Keith Allison ]
