2010 Preseason

With all the off-season ruckus that’s come through Miami finally being pushed aside, the Heat opened preseason on October 5 vs. the Detroit Pistons.  Finally the time to see Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh play together had come.  Yet unfortunately, for players and fans alike, this preview of the full team lasted a measly three minutes into the first quarter.  Wade pulled up limping and has been sitting out with a right hamstring injury since.  Hopefully Wade will be available and ready for the 2010 season opener October 26 in Boston. 

As of now, reports are that Wade is almost pain-free when touching his hamstring, but will still be withheld from basketball activities for the next week.  This action plan will prevent Wade from playing in any of the remaining preseason games before the season opens, however will help to ensure a full recovery and have him more healthy for the entire season, when every game matters.     

At the same time, Wade’s injury hopefully will not hurt the team in regards to having all the players get experience playing together, getting accustomed to the offensive/defensive systems, as well as each other’s playing styles, techniques, and so on.  It takes some time playing with new teammates before you are fully comfortable with them, but if one of the big three was going to get hurt it is the best-case scenario that it was Wade.  This is Wade’s seventh year with the team, and he has proven he knows the systems, as well as the majority of his teammates.  For Wade to get hurt sets the team back some, but in reality it could be a lot worse.  Wade was quoted in an article on www.espn.com on October 7 saying, "I know the offense, I know the defense and I know these guys. Me fitting in, it won't be a problem at all. ... We're still building something here, off the court as well as on the court. We're getting to know everybody and I'm still a teacher. I can teach these guys and get my therapy while I'm there.”  http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5655709  This goes to show that Wade is still maintaining his leadership of the team, even as he is recovering from his injury.  The Heat will just have to work harder and faster at getting comfortable with one another when they are at full strength again.